“Actually, yes.”
I listen as Becky tells me about her mom’s sister who lives in Ohio, and how they occasionally go there to visit.
Her phone beeps just as she’s finishing telling me about the time her family went fishing and her older brother ended up in the lake. Although phones are technically prohibited inside the school premises, I don’t think anybody actually follows that rule.
Becky checks the screen, and whatever’s on it has her rolling her eyes.
“What is it?”
“Miguel.” She rolls her eyes. “He’s asking where we are.”
“If you want you can go inside,” I offer, knowing she’s here because I asked her.
“What? Of course not. I’m not leaving you.”
“But they’re your friends. It wasn’t my intention to put you on the spot.”
“You’re my friend too. And you aren’t putting me on the spot. Besides, chances are even if I go back, we’ll pick a fight or something again. I love those guys, but sometimes they drive me bonkers.”
I chuckle. “I think the feeling is mutual.”
“Oh, I know that. We’ve known each other since we were just kids. My family owns a ranch next to Emmett’s. We’ve been next-door neighbors our whole lives. With two brothers, I’ve always been surrounded by boys, so it felt natural to make friends with Emmett and the guys.”
“It’s strange that you didn’t turn out to be a tomboy.”
Becky smooths out the edge of her skirt. “Oh, I was a tomboy for a bit there, but even though the boys are my best friends, I always loved girly stuff too. Dresses, high heels, makeup, dolls.” She looks to the side, a smile curling her lips. “I remember one time I was really sick with the flu. Once I finally felt better, Miguel and Emmett came for a visit, and I made them play Barbies with me.”
“Did they do it?” I ask, laughing at the image of the three of them playing with dolls.
“They sure did. They were grumbling the whole time, but they did it.”
“Who did what?”
We both turn as one at the sound of the new voice. Emmett and Miguel are standing there, looking at us expectantly. I’d been concentrating so much on the story that I didn’t hear them arrive.
“I was just telling Kate about that time when you came to visit me, and we ended up playing with Barbies together.”
Emmett groans.
“Seriously, Becs? That’s so freaking low. And here we were worried about you since you didn’t come to the cafeteria.”
Becky looks at me and makes a face before turning her attention back to Miguel. “What did you think happened?”
“How the hell should I know? You didn’t show up.” There is a frown between Miguel’s brows. He kicks a rock, sulking. “You always show up.”
“That’s my fault,” I interject, not wanting Becky to take the blame. “I thought it’d be fun to eat outside for a change.”
Emmett’s brows raise. “In this heat?”
“It’s not that bad,” I say defensively, but don’t look at him. There is no way I’ll admit that not that long ago I complained about the exact same thing, but would rather spend time outside than have to look at him flirting with Barbie Emma or one of her friends.
“Yeah, right.”
Emmett doesn’t seem to believe me one bit, not that I can blame him. Even I don’t believe myself.
“It’s not. Besides, I’m from California. It’s basically the same.”
Becky gives me a look but doesn’t comment out loud.
“Sure thing.” Emmett throws his backpack on the ground and sits next to me.
I pull back a little, creating some space between us. “What are you doing?”
“We’re here.” Emmett shrugs, pulling his lunch out of his backpack. “Might as well eat.”
He takes one of my chips.
“Hey,” I protest. “That’s mine.”
Emmett’s hand stops just short of his mouth. His full, lush mouth. The mouth that I still dream about brushing against mine.
He lifts his brows. “Want me to give it back?”
I shake my head to clear my mind and glare at him. “Keep it.”
“How come you two decided to come outside?” Becky asks, taking a sip from her water bottle.
“When you didn’t show up, other people decided to take your spots,” Miguel says as he sits cross-legged next to her.
“What other people?” Becky asks, her eyes narrowing.
“Just oth—” Becky pinches him. “Ouch. Fine, some of the cheerleaders.”
“Why am I not surprised the vultures came?” She rolls her eyes.
“They’re not all bad.” Miguel takes a huge bite of the first slice of his pizza; out of three.
Becky turns to him. “If they’re not so bad, why did you come here?”
“And here they go again,” I mutter to myself. Becky and Miguel are too busy fighting, so they don’t hear me, but Emmett does, and he chuckles softly.
“Nothing to say?” Emmett whispers so only I can hear him.
Unable to resist it, I look up at him. His face is serious as he observes me. My tongue darts out, wetting my lower lip. “What is there to be said?”
The silence stretches between us as we just stare at one another—
a silence filled with tension that seems to last way longer than the few seconds it actually does.
“Nothing, I guess.” Emmett shrugs and looks away, concentrating on his food.
I do the same, but I can’t erase the look of disappointment that crossed his face before he looked away.
“Hey, I’m home,” I yell as I enter the house. I let my backpack drop to the floor and toe off my shoes.
The music stops, and a soft voice calls out my name. “Kate?”
“It’s me.” I grab the strap of the backpack and follow the sound of my sister’s voice to the living room. “What have you been up to, Penny?”
Her fingers swiftly move over the ivory keys, melody filling the space. “Playing.”
Dropping my backpack by the couch, I go and sit next to her on the bench. Henry opens one eye from his place next to the piano and looks at me. I swear I can feel his judgment sometimes. I scratch him behind his ears for a bit until he’s content and goes back to sleep. “How was school?”
“Good.”
“Nobody giving you a hard time?”
“I’m thirteen, not a baby, Kate,” Penny groans. Shifting in her seat, so she’s turned toward me, Penny takes my hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. “You don’t have to worry so much.”
She tilts her head, making her braid sway and fall over her shoulder.
I push a strand of pale blonde hair behind her ear with my free hand. “You’re my little sister, of course, I worry.”
“You don’t have to worry. People are nice here. It’s not like in the city.”
I know she’s right, but the fact is, there are bad people everywhere. And just because so far we’ve only encountered good folk doesn’t mean there isn’t an asshole hiding here somewhere.
“There are mean people everywhere, Penny,” I voice out loud. I need her to remember that and not let her guard down.