Page 25 of You Said I Was Your Favorite

“They’re cute. Your mom has good taste.”

I don’t correct her by saying had. There’s no need to let Edie know my mom is gone. I’ve already made that mistake with her brother and he totally used it against me.

We make small talk as we work our way down the bar, and once we’re done, I’m about to go my own way when Edie says, “Where are you sitting?”

“Oh.” I clear my throat, shocked she’d ask. Doesn’t she have a pile of friends she can sit with? Maybe she hangs out with her brother’s friends. That current group is a mixed bag of grades. “I usually sit over there.”

I incline my head toward the small tables that only have two chairs.

“Do you mind if I join you? Or do you already sit with someone? It’s cool if you do. I just thought I’d ask.” Edie’s smile is small and if you look a little more closely, it’s also fragile.

Like she’s afraid I’m going to reject her.

“You can join me,” I offer, shocked by the blinding smile she flashes in my direction.

We go and sit at one of the tiny tables and I watch as Edie grabs her fork the moment we’re in our seats, diving right into her salad. I follow her lead, suddenly ravenous, and for a few minutes, we’re silent as we eat. The loud crunch of my chewing the only thing I can focus on.

“You know my brother,” is what Edie finally says to restart our conversation.

I practically choke on a cucumber at her statement and immediately reach for my water tumbler, taking a long sip from the thick plastic straw to get the rest of the cucumber down before I can speak. “I knowofhim.” I pause. “Everyone does.”

“True.” Edie tilts her head, her examining gaze making me want to squirm. She has the same eyes as Arch, though hers are a little darker. A lot friendlier. “You’re the girl he got suspended for.”

Surprise fills me. “He didn’t get suspended.”

Edie is nodding before I can finish my sentence. “Yes, he did. Well, part of his suspension is he still had to go to class, which is just the ultimate punishment for Arch. He hates it here.”

“Why?” The word pops out of my mouth like I have no control, but what she said is so shocking. “He’s a Lancaster. He should be having the time of his life.”

“He’s bored. Too smart for his own good.” Edie ducks her head, staring at her salad for a moment before she lifts her gaze to mine once more. “Your dad is Ralph, right?”

I nod.

“I have a question.”

I wait, apprehension filling me.

“When is he going to hook the kitchen up with those juicy tomatoes growing in his garden, huh?”

I’m laughing. And I’m also having a realization. She’s known exactly who I was since the moment she stood behind me in line at the salad bar.

“I don’t know,” I tell her truthfully. “But he’s good friends with Kathy who works in the kitchen, so I’m sure he’ll provide them with tomatoes soon enough.”

Edie is grinning. “Good.”

We eat in silence once more, curiosity gnawing at my insides until I can’t take it anymore.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.” She waits expectantly.

“What exactly were you talking about, Arch being suspended because of me? And that he still had to go to class?”

“He confessed all at our most recent family luncheon.” Edie shrugs one shoulder, seemingly uncomfortable. “I guess Matthews let our father know what happened and Arch got drilled about it.”

“Matthews let your father know what?”

“That Arch said something rude to you and you two got into an…altercation, I believe is the word he used to describe it. And that Arch was suspended.”

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