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After watching enough of them to convince myself I’m practically a professional roofer, I make a quick run to the hardware store. When I return, I climb back up armed with everything I supposedly need.

I’ve barely gotten started when a voice carries up from below.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

I peer down from the roof and find Milo standing in the yard, staring up at me. I really shouldn’t engage. I should just pretend I didn’t hear him and get back to fixing the roof. If only I’d been smart enough not to make eye contact with him.

“So? Are you going to answer me or not?” His voice is so cold I barely recognize it. “What are you doing up there?”

“What does it look like?”

“It looks like you’re trying to repair the shingles on your roof.”

“Ding, ding, ding. Tell him what he’s won, Alex.”

He doesn’t so much as twitch.

“You’ve never done that before.”

“There’s plenty I’ve never done before. First time for everything.”

“You’re going to slip and snap your neck.”

Then the world would be happier for it. No more Maxine Morgan to torture.

The thought comes so easily that I hate myself a little for it.

Before I can tell Milo to mind his own business, he grabs hold of the ladder and starts climbing.

“What are you doing?!” I shout at him.

“Making sure you don’t kill yourself.”

“I don’t remember asking for your help.”

“Well, you’ve got it, so deal with it.” He pulls himself onto the roof beside me, and the first thing I notice is the absence of that familiar Milo smile. His lips are pressed into a thin line, and God, how I hate seeing them that way.

I sit back on my heels and watch him inspect the shingles I’d been about to tackle myself.

“Okay,” he says after a minute. “Not as bad as I thought. I can have this done this afternoon.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Good thing I didn’t ask you, then.”

I roll my shoulders, trying to ease the tension his curt reply stirred up, and turn my attention to the house across the street. His house. More specifically, her house.

“Where’s your stepsister? I haven’t seen her all summer.”

“She’s spending it with Troy up in Portland. They’re dating now, you know.”

“Yeah. I heard something like that.” I chew on my bottom lip, still staring at his front porch.

Peyton might not be in Fairhope, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t watching.

After everything that’s happened, I’m not stupid enough to believe one of her little minions wouldn’t happily report back that Milo spent his afternoon on my roof.

I wish I knew their whereabouts as easily as they seem to know mine.