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“Hey, easy. I wasn’t criticizing. You’re absolutely right.” He jerks his head toward the Volvo. “Roman—Vapor—grew up in foster care. He doesn’t talk about it a lot. Not to me anyway. But it was rough.”
My throat’s too tight to do anything other than nod.
“She’s lucky to have you.”
“We’re lucky to have each other.” I let out a sad laugh. “She sort of forced me to grow up and stop making bad life choices, you know?”
“Not everyone’s capable of that kind of growth. Lot of people would take the easiest route possible.” He glances at our house. “You’ve done well.”
“It’s my aunt’s place,” I admit. “Washers. She didn’t have any kids.”
He nods thoughtfully, but it’s pretty much a conversation killer.
“I should get going.” Dex taps my shoulder, then lets his fingers trail over my arm. One of his fingers briefly curls around my pinky before he snatches his hand away. “Friday?”
“Right,” I whisper, shaken from his touch. “Seven,” I confirm in a stronger voice.
“Seven,” he repeats.
And I’ll be thinking of nothing but him until then.
CHAPTERFIVE
Emily
Libby’s in the kitchen,picking at a peanut butter and Fluff sandwich when I go inside.
“Wooo,” she sings. “My big sister has major heart eyes for Dex.”
“Shut up.” I walk over to the stove and flick the flame under my tea kettle. “Is that all you want for dinner? I defrosted chicken. I was planning to try that pecan crust we read about and pop ’em in the air fryer.”
“Can we do that tomorrow?” she asks. “I’m already feeling crispy around the edges, and I wasn’t lying about homework.”
I chuckle at her teenage description of burnout. “Yeah, of course.” I pull out the chair next to her and sit while I wait for the water to boil. “Anything I can help with?”
“Not really.” She jams the rest of the sandwich in her mouth and jumps up, knocking the heavy wooden chair backward with a screech against the tile.
“Easy.”
She leans in and slaps a sweet peanut-scented kiss on my cheek. “Study sesh on Zoom with Mackenzie and Caroline.”
“Studying or giggle-fest?”
She rolls her eyes and twirls out the door, wiggling her fingers goodbye.
The whistle on my kettle blows. I stand and fix my tea. Stillness creeps through the old house. I push the kitchen door open and lean into the living room, listening for signs my sister’s safely tucked in her room. Distant giggles reach me and my lips curve up. She must already be online with her friends.
I return to the kitchen and grab my teacup, then walk to the wide windows overlooking the backyard. The urge to talk tosomeoneabout today needles me. Most of my friends have settled into relationships. I glance at the clock. Celia’s one of my last single friends, but she’s probably still at work.
Serena should be home. And she actuallyknowsDex. Maybe she can give me some insight.
She answers on the first ring. “I was just thinking about you.”
“Your room’s still available if you want to return.”Ah, crap. Why’d I say that?I miss having her here, sure. But I want to be a supportive friend, not a desperate, clingy one.
“Aww, I miss you guys. How’s Libby?”
“Good,” I say absently, unsure of how to ask about Dex. I take a quick sip of my tea, searing my tongue.
