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“No way. Origami is the best.”
“Did you see my brother this week?”
“No, I didn’t.”
He gave me a dismissive nod as I got our station set up.
God, I was a terrible person. But the less Scottie knew about Mason and me, the better.
“He’s picking me up today.”
Great.
“That’s nice.”
“I’m sorry Mason shouted at you at the diner the other day. I don’t think he wants me to skate.”
“He’s probably just worried because he knows you’re scared and doesn’t want you to get upset.”
Another nod.
Scottie followed my lead, taking one of the pre-cut shapes and following the folds. He was so damn cute, with all that floppy hair and pensive expression. His eyes were all Mason, but the rest of his features must have been his parents.
“Good job, buddy. That’s it. You need to fold right along that crease.”
He responded well to my instructions, unlike a kid two tables over, who was giving Greta, one of the other volunteers, a hard time. But Linda had explained that this group wasn’t just about fun and downtime. It was about expanding the kids’ experiences and exposing them to new things. Some pushback was expected.
Scottie was the perfect student, though. Until he said quietly, “My dad has a new family.”
“I… I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” He looked at me with a strange expression.
“It’s a figure of speech,” I explained. “I just mean, that must be hard for you.”
He shrugged. “Mason said that he left because he and my mom didn’t love each other anymore. But I think he’s lying.”
“I’m sure Mason would never do that.”
Another shrug, another brush-off.
“He’s right about grown-ups,” I added. “Sometimes they fall out of love, and it’s better for them to be apart than together. But it doesn’t mean they don’t love you just as much as they always have.”
Scottie didn’t reply, though. He focused all his attention on the project—burrowing deeper into the feelings he didn’t quite understand.
I didn’t push. I just let him know I was there if he needed me, all while trying to ignore the groaning ache in my stomach.
Aurora was right: I shouldn’t have come today. My body was in tatters, and I wasn’t sure I’d make the drive home. But I was glad I’d made an effort.
Even though I had to tell myself repeatedly, I’d done it for the kid sitting opposite me.
And not his big brother.
CHAPTER15
MASON
I spottedHarper’s car as I pulled into the RCC parking lot.
