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“She is,” Kelley nods slowly. “but she’s getting way too attached to you. And honestly? I think you’re too attached to her. You guys are too close. You can’t be hanging around with an almost thirteen-year-old girl, Fox. It’s only going to look worse as she gets older. The last four times we asked you to come hang out with us, you blew us off, and stayed here to do things with her. It’s got us a little worried.”
I don’t know how I got in the middle of this impromptu intervention, but it's starting to piss me off. “I like hanging around with her. She makes me laugh, and I love her creativity. And I’m not gonna lie—she kinda reminds me of Bri.”
Mikey nods. “I’ve seen that in her, too. She’s got a lot of Bri’s mannerisms.”
“Which makes it worse,” Kelley adds. “I think she’s stirring up old feelings for you.”
Nausea festers deep in my stomach. “Are you serious? You think I have feelings for a kid?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “We never said that. We know it’s not like that. I’m just saying she’s got feelings for you, and I think she’s unknowingly digging up buried memories of Bri too much. I’m afraid it’s gonna get messy as she gets older. I’m worried about the lines blurring for you.”
Blurring lines? What the hell does that mean?
Mikey nods. “I agree. I think you should stop letting her hang around.”
Shocked, I shake my head. “You guys really think that? You’re serious?”
Kelley pushes his hand through his hair. “We like Penny; she’s a really cool little kid. Hell, we’ve watched her grow up. But now it’s almost like you guys are in a relationship. She literally just blew off ice cream with kids her own age to be with you. And I’m gonna guess that wasn’t the first time. Did you not notice how upset she was that you weren’t going to hang out with her later? It’s not good for her, or for you, to be so attached to each other. She’s not your kid, or your girlfriend.”
Pain slices through my chest at the mention of my kid.
“You guys are making me feel sick. She’s a friend. I’ve never crossed any kind of line with her. I never—”
“Alex, we know that. We just think you should end it now. So she’ll make friends her age. Do you want the kids at school to start making fun of her? Maybe start rumors? They just saw her here, hanging out with three men. The age difference between you guys is just too much. All that aside, you gotta get out more, maybe meet someone, start dating?”
I blow out an irritated sigh. “Screw that. I don’t want to meet anyone.”
“Fine,” Mikey says. “But at least come out with us and have some fun a few times a month. Remember when we used to hang out all the time? You can’t just sit in your studio by yourself or with a twelve-year-old girl all the time. It’s all way too dysfunctional.”
When they point everything out, it does all sound bad. I don’t want the other kids to make fun of Penny. The last thing I’d ever want is for her to be an outcast like I was. She’s too adorable and smart to go through that.
I fall back into the chair and stare out at the barn, letting their words sink in, flooding past the dam of denial.
They’re not entirely wrong. Penny and I have a special connection. I’ve never been able to put a label on it, but it’s undeniably there—a lingering static, a warm hum that perpetually fills the air between us. Even though it’s always been a thousand-percent innocent, they’re right. I like spending time with Penny. She calms me; she ignites my creativity, and she makes me happy. I love watching her talent grow. She’s filled a huge, lonely abyss in my life. But my friends are right—it’s not a connection a guy my age should have with a young girl, especially one I’m not even related to.
Letting out a deep breath, I swirl the ice in my drink and watch the strawberry slice spin around. Is it a coincidence it’s the shape of a heart? Or did Penny cut it that way?
“Maybe you guys have a point.” I continue to stare at my drink, unable to meet their eyes. “What if I just spend less time with her? Maybe just once a month to work on art projects with her?”
Mikey shakes his head. “Dude, your head’s been messed up for years after what happened. Grief is ugly. I get all that. You’ve put yourself in a bubble with a sweet kid who’s like a little ray of sunshine who craves your attention. But it’s time to break the bubble—for both your sakes. I think you both need a clean break.”
