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“Mm,” she snarks. “An hour I wouldn’t have to spend with your annoying ass.”
“Language.” I turn and start walking without waiting for her. “Now hurry up, or I’m not stopping at Wolfies on the way home.”
She rushes up next to me, trying to hide her giddy smile. “Thank you,” she whispers as to not give away that she’s happy I’m here.
“Yeah, yeah. I got it. Feed the beast, and she’ll be happy.”
She shoves her shoulder against mine. “Shut up.”
???
“Declan Carver! You put that cake down. You haven’t even touched your green beans yet,” my mom scolds Declan at the dinner table.
He stares at her with his mouth hanging open. “Mom, you realize I can go home and have cake if I want?”
“Just because you don’t live here anymore doesn’t mean you don’t have to listen to your mother.”
He shovels a huge spoonful of beans into his mouth. “You happy?” he asks with his mouth full like he’s still a little shit because he is.
The meal is wrapping up though, so I give my mom a nod, reminding her what we talked about this morning before Thea arrived. Thea and Trevor come over for Sunday lunch at my parents’ most weeks, and my mom has Thea over during the week a lot still. Her and Trev would come to my parents’ place after school more after everything that went down with her parents.
My mom took them in as her own of course. Especially Thea. She was the daughter she never had. And once you get under my mom’s wings, you belong to her. She’s going to do anything to protect you.
My mom smiles at me before reaching her arm out and squeezing Thea’s hand on the table. “So Thea, I heard your dad has to work for awards night. Me and Mr. Carver would love to fill in if you’d like us to.”
Thea glares my way, knowing it had to be me who told her since Trevor had to work today. I look down at my phone, pretending I’m not paying attention.
Thea gives my mom a small smile. “Oh, uhm… Thanks. Uh…”
My mom can tell she’s uncomfortable accepting, so she gives her that reassuring smile that makes you feel like no matter what, everything’s going to be okay. “Or just me if that would make you feel more comfortable.”
That seems to ease some of her tension. “Sure, Mrs. C. I’d really like that.”
My mom turns to me and Deck. “You boys can clear the table, and then we can get into the cake,” she says, changing the subject to ease any embarrassment Thea might be feeling.
Thea stands. “Trevor and Declan did the dishes last time. I can help. You eat your cake,” she says, mocking Deck like the rest of us.
We both grab the plates and walk into the kitchen. I barely have mine set down in the sink when Thea whacks me upside the head.
“Ow,” I say, grabbing my head to protect myself from any more blows after I see the angry look on her face.
“Why did you tell your mom about parents’ night? What the fuck, Carver!”
“Language,” I say, backing out of swinging range. “It’s no big deal.”
“It was none of your business in the first place. I don’t go around telling her you made Declan pretend to be you to take Ellie Thompson out because you got drunk in a field the night before and had no ride home.”
I lean back, blinking at the floor for a moment. “I’m not even going to question how you know about that, but you are taking that secret to your grave. Do you understand me?”
“Mack!” She throws her hands up before crossing them over her chest. “Seriously! What the hell!”
“She cares about you! Okay?” I whisper-shout. “And I care about you! And I wanted you to have the people who care about you there to support you, okay?”
She looks down at the ground, wringing her hand around her wrist like she’s not sure if she deserves it. I tip her chin up, forcing her to face me. “It won’t be a big deal. I promise.”
She nods, accepting that it’s happening whether she wants it to or not. “Okay.”
Chapter 8
