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“Well, let me fatten you up before you leave. Those places will have the worst food you can think of.” She beamed before turning her gaze to me. “Welcome to town, Miss…?”

“Wren. Sara Wren.” I introduced myself to her.

She radiated a homely warmth that I’d been missing from my parents. With the rushed move, the whispered fights between my them, and the dwindling savings, all that we shared among each other were terse exchanges.

“What will you two be having?” she asked.

Ash gestured for me to go first.

“I’ll have a cheeseburger, extra fries.”

“I’ll have the same,” he parroted.

Our food came some time later as Ash pointed out locals and their names as they walked down the street leaving for work or just idling about. It was a relatively quiet coastal town, lively yet isolated.

We ate in comfortable silence, something that had been rare to come by, and I studied the boy before me between bites of food. He had these long eyelashes, golden-brown skin, berry-stained lips, and a hint of tattoos that he probably got without permission. He had trouble written all over him. And I‌ was a magnet for all things bad.

“How old are you?” I asked, quirking a brow toward him.

“I am turning sixteen in June. You?”

“I turned fifteen two months ago.” I said, with my mouth full of fries.

I should have been more wary of my presentation, but a feeling told me Ash didn’t care. Besides, I hated my birthdays. They were never anything special to celebrate.

His lips twitched. “Well, looks like we have to party early now that we’re friends.”

Nodding, I felt an inkling of rebellion rise in my chest. “Any good parties on this side of the world?”

“Don’t talk about parties in public. My dad’s the Sheriff and we have curfew.” His voice lowered, eyes darting about.

A knock on the window beside us startled me before I could respond.

Standing outside, waving with a bright smile, is my mother.

“Hey you two!” She beamed as she entered the cafe.

I forced an eye roll because I was still mad at her. But when wasn’t I?

“Hey Mrs. Wren, we were just finishing up. Do you want anything before we leave?” Ash asked my mother.

“Oh no. I’m good. Just coming to get Sara before we venture up to the house.” She smiled at him. My mother was not a smiler, Antonella was a scorner with beautiful lips.

“I’ll meet you outside, Mom.”

“Alright.” Her gaze flickered between Ash and I before turning on her heel and leaving as swiftly as she came.

“Here.” I retrieved money, but he stopped me.

“Don’t. It’s already taken care of.”

“I don’t eat for free, Ash.”

A bemused grin stretched across his face. “Tell you what, you can repay me by coming to my party this weekend. Give me your hand.”

“Why?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Just give it to me.” Slowly I stretched my hand toward him, observing.