“Thanks. I think I’ll just go home. Maybe I’ll stop by my parents’. B likes it when I have dinner with them.”

“You’ll spoil that sister of yours.”

“I hope so.”

Jason sighed before returning to the main topic. “Ryan, it’s been a long time. You should at least try to get over it.”

I took a deep breath and leaned back in the seat. “I just saw your sister. Actually, we even spoke. Two sentences, I guess, but still.”

“What? How come?”

“Apparently, she got a job at Alan’s office and he’s the sponsor of the Habit for Humanity site I’m working at. She came to talk to the supervisor.”

I could picture Jason pacing wherever he was. “How was it?”

“I’m not sure.” She had looked pissed, sad, but most of all, she wanted to stay away from me. “Bad, I think.”

“And how are you about this?”

“Bad.” A sad chuckle escaped my lips. “Quite frankly, I never thought I would see her again. And it hurts.”

“Ah, man. Okay, you know what? I’m gonna call the guys and we’re gonna meet at The Pub and drink some beers, play pool, throw some darts.”

Why did my friends care so much? I was a bad influence. They shouldn’t want to be with me. I sighed. “I appreciate the offer, but you don’t want my company right now. Go ride with the guys, and we’ll go to The Pub tomorrow. Okay? Bye.”

I turned the cell phone off before Jason could say anything else.

I wasn’t good company right now. I wasn’t good company ever.

Chapter Seven

Jessica

I stared at the big flower bouquet on the dining table. Beautiful pink lilies and, among them, a bright red card in the shape of a heart. It was here when I arrived home from work. With a big smile, Mama told me the delivery guy brought it that morning.

I tried throwing them away, but Mama wouldn’t let me.

“Don’t you dare¸” she said. “Even if you don’t like this Gavin, I won’t let you throw away such beautiful flowers.” She tended to them as if Papa had given them to her on their anniversary. “Besides, he must really like you.”

But I didn’t like him. And it hurt me, the fact that I had unknowingly made him fall in love with me. If I had paid attention, I would have noticed it and I would have put an end to our relationship much sooner.

After dinner, Mama made me promised I wouldn’t do anything to the flowers. Only after I agreed did she retire to her bedroom.

I slouched on the couch, my feet on the coffee table, and texted Kristin. I was past midnight, but I knew she was a night owl.

Me: Gavin sent flowers.

Kristin: Really? That’s cute.

Me: No, not cute. That’s wrong. He’s supposed to forget me.

Kristin: But he’s in loooooove.

Me: Keep that up and I won’t text you for the rest of the summer.

Kristin: Okay, okay, I’m done.

After a minute, she sent another text.

Kristin: Did he send a card?

Me: Yes. It says, “I miss you. Love, Gavin.”

Kristin: Aw, that’s cute.

Me: Kristin!

Kristin: Okay, okay.

My phone’s screen change from the text app to Gavin’s picture and the ring of my phone filled the room.

Me: He’s calling.

Kristin: Then answer.

Me: I don’t know what to say to him.

Kristin: Just thank him for the flowers.

I could do that, right? I could be polite and thank him for the flowers. Nothing else. If he tried talking about us, I could steer the topic back to safe waters.

Just as I made up my mind to answer, the ringing stopped.

I let out a long breath, part of me relieved and part of me feeling guilty for being so bitchy. Damn, it wasn’t my intention. If I had known how deep his feelings were …

Frustrated, I shot up, burst into the kitchen, grabbed a cracker packet and the jar of honey, and sat at the table. If I was going to be irritated, better with lots of sugar in my veins.

I let some honey drip onto a cracker and took it to my mouth, but froze when I saw the back door open. It was late and the house was dark. Jesus, what if someone had broken in?

I scrambled to the porch and found Jason seated on the swing with Luna, looking at the stars.

“What are you doing up at this hour?” he asked.

After grabbing my honey and crackers from inside, I sat on one of the chairs around the wooden table. “What are you doing here at this hour? It’s Friday night. Aren’t you supposed to be out and about?”

He shrugged. “I’m getting too old for that.”

I laughed. “Yeah, right.”

His head tilted and his eyes narrowed at me. “You just laughed.”

I closed my mouth and spread honey on a cracker. “And? I can’t laugh?”

“Well, I’ve been home for a week and you’ve been avoiding me. We’ve barely exchanged a few words.”

“Let’s say I’m kinda tired of avoiding everyone.”

He scratched under Luna’s ear while she snored loudly. “So tell me about your life in Cleveland.”

“It’s boring really.”

He smiled and, even in the dark, I could see the shine of his eyes. “I want to know about my little sister. Please, tell me.”

Mad or not, he was still my big brother and I did miss talking to him.

I sighed. “I’m going into my third year of architecture, and I’m pretty happy about it.”

“In Cleveland?”

“Yes. I didn’t want to leave grandma alone. She’s getting old, you know.” I licked a smidgen of honey from my finger.

“I remember your fascination with architecture. You always had your sketchpad with you, always drawing the people and places around you. Do you still sketch?”

“Yup.” However, I had stopped drawing people a long time ago. Almost four years to be exact. But he didn’t need to know that.

“You do know architecture isn’t in its best shape right now, right? Getting a well-paying job will be hard.”

“I know, but I love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else.” When we were kids, Rachel, Sophie, Faith, and I played dolls all the time, but the truth was, they played dolls while I sat beside them, drawing the dolls’ houses, complete with façade and floor plan.

“I’m glad you like it that much.” A grin spread over his lips. “I saw the flowers.” I groaned. “So, you have a boyfriend there. Want to tell me about him?”

“Nope. I really don’t want to talk about that.” I spread honey over another cracker. “Tell me about you. I know you’re studying biology at the University of South Carolina. Why didn’t you go away?”

He looked up at the stars, and I thought he wouldn’t answer. “The truth is that I couldn’t do that to Mom. She already suffered too much when you left. I didn’t want to add to that. Then when Dad became ill, I knew I had made the right decision. I’ll stay here with her.”

That was surprising. Jason had been nothing short of selfish when he was younger. He had changed, and apparently, my absence had triggered it. Once more, I realized I wasn’t a factor in this family. They had their routine and their lives and their purposes, all without me.

I finished eating and stood. I was picking up the crackers and the honey, when I heard the sound of a car and loud music approaching. Luna jumped from the seat and went to the fence to bark at the car.

I glanced at Jason and found him watching me with big eyes.

Slowly, I turned to the street and saw as a black Mustang reduced speed. The music turned down, but the car didn’t stop. It drove by and away.

“Sorry, I thought you would be asleep. He was coming by to talk.” Jason stood, his cell phone in his hand. “I’m gonna call him and meet him outside.”

I remained frozen to the spot. I couldn’t escape him. Every place I went, even in my house, he was there.

At least I hadn’t been sent to the Habitat for Humanity site again. However, it still boggled my mind. Ryan wasn’t one to volunteer for a charity. What was he doing there?