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“I think I’ve been there once.” He took a bite of his doughnut and moaned. “So good.”
“Right?” I scarfed down my own, then reached for some napkins. “They have pretty good food.”
“You’ll have to come for dinner sometime and sit in my section.” Mom gave me a knowing look that made my stomach feel unsettled. Maybe doughnuts after midnight were not a good idea after all. “Well, I’m headed to bed. It’s been a long night.”
When she left the room, we finished our doughnuts and threw out our napkins. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
We stepped out into the cool night air. The moon was bright in the sky as the wind nipped at my skin.
“Thanks for a great night. Hope your mom isn’t mad you had a visitor.”
“Are you kidding? She’s thrilled we’ve reconnected and become friends.”
“That makes two of us,” he replied, his eyelashes brushing his cheeks. “Night.”
I watched him walk toward the lot where I assumed he’d parked, then headed back inside, feeling strange but good. Really good. Which was wholly dangerous where he was concerned.
I climbed into bed, but it was hard to get to sleep as I relived every moment tonight from the coloring to the roof and then what happened on the couch. Damn.
* * *
In the morning Mom was awake before me, watching the news and sipping coffee. “Want to talk about it?”
“Not really.” I shuffled to the pot of coffee and poured myself a cup.
“I’m fine with you inviting friends over, especially—”
“I didn’t invite him. He just showed up, which was obviously a surprise.”
“Like I said, maybe he needed a friend”—she arched a brow—“and enjoys your company.”
“Oh my God, stop. It’s too early for this.”
She laughed. “It was a sweet picture when I came in. Snuggling is the best.”
“I like snuggling,” Star announced, padding into the room in her fluffy unicorn slippers.
“I especially like my little Starling’s snuggles.” Mom lifted Star up and kissed her cheek.
“Hey, I’m not little,” Star said, squirming.
“You’re right. You’re becoming my big girl now,” Mom replied, and I could see the melancholy in her gaze. Sometimes she complained that life went by too fast. “Who wants pancakes?”
“I do!” Star shouted as Mom set her on the floor.
“I can help,” I said, heading toward the fridge.
“Sit your butt down. You help plenty,” she said with a sharp look.
So I played with Star and her dolls on the area rug while Mom cooked breakfast. She especially loved to pretend they were ballerinas, and sometimes we played dress-up too. Though she was never interested in any formal training, she still wanted me to teach her all my moves. Fine by me.
By the time the pancakes were ready, I was famished. I slathered my stack with plenty of butter and syrup and found myself wondering how Henry took his. Whereas before I could never have imagined Henry sitting at this table with us, after last night, everything seemed different.
26
HENRY
The following Friday,I showed up at Lark’s again. He didn’t seem as surprised to see me as last week, and I half expected him to turn me away. I should’ve asked instead of texting him about his plans. After that, he might’ve anticipated it.
