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His eyes trail across the street. “I can help you with your lawn if you’d like.”
My nose scrunches. “My lawn?”
He slips his hands into his pockets. “It helps if you winterize the grass before the temperature really drops. Now’s the time to do it so you’re not having such a hard time with it in the spring.”
Why is he talking about my lawn?
Then it hits me.
I’ve struggled to keep my grass green, and I spend a lot of time outside in the spring and summer months, putting down fertilizer and watering it, trying to will it back to life.
Something a neighbor would notice me doing.
I bite my bottom lip to keep the smile from spreading across my face. “Sure, I’d love some help.”
I told Grant I’ve noticed him…
But he just told me he’s noticed me too.
10
Grant
“I’m going to fail.”
Elena squeezes Noah’s hand. “We’ve only been practicing for a week. It’s okay if you fail.”
Noah rests her forehead on the table. “But I don’t want to get grounded.”
I set down the pot on the stove and turn to face Noah. “I only grounded you that one time because you didn’t study. Not because you failed. I see how hard you’ve been practicing for this test though. I’d never ground you for that.”
Elena nods. “And we can look at the questions you might get wrong, and figure out what’s still confusing you. We learn when we make mistakes. I tell my students that tests are a celebration of knowledge. It shows them everything they’ve learned, and where they need to practice more.”
“I like that.” Noah lifts her head and offers her a small smile. “A celebration of knowledge.”
Leave it to Blondie to turn a failing grade into a celebration.
Elena grips her shoulders. “But let’s not assume the worst, right? Think positive and believe in yourself. You’ve been doing great on all these practice tests. I bet you’ll pass this test next week.”
“I have been working really hard. I deserve a little reward.” Noah shoots me an innocent look. “So, can I go to the mall with Hannah tonight?”
My chin jerks back. “What do you need to go to the mall for?”
“We go to hang out.”
“I worked my ass off all dayandcooked dinner. Have you done any of your chores this week? Cleaned your room or done any laundry? Maybe run a vacuum around the floor and suck up all this dog hair.” I glare at Romeo, who hides his face under his paw as if he understands me.
Noah’s shoulders slump. “No, but I will.”
I scrub my hand over my jaw. “You’re going to do all your chores right now?”
“Yes.” She pops up out of her seat. “Give me an hour. Then can you drive me to the mall?”
I swallow a groan. “No. My back is killing me and the last thing I want to do is play chauffeur.”
“If you’d go to the doctor for your back like I keep telling you to, maybe this wouldn’t be an issue.” Noah stomps her foot before storming out of the room.
Elena opens her mouth to say something, but I hold up one finger. “Wait for it.”
