Page 10 of The Overdue Kiss

I frown at my sister’s smug expression.

“Never mind, Aunt Birdie. Reese seems to know where she is.”

“Now you’ve piqued my curiosity. Who is this mystery girl?” the old woman croons.

“Uh, nobody.” I can taste the lie on my lips.

Apparently Aunt Birdie also isn’t buying it. She hums in pacifying agreement. “Well, you give me a call if you need anything else, sweetie. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for your mystery girl. Perhaps I can ask my bingo ladies to be on the lookout in town.”

I silently groan. “Oh, no, you don’t have to?—‍”

“I’m happy to help. Oh, my word above. Holt’s dogs just raced through here tracking mud from who knows where on my freshly mopped floors. I have to go.”

“Wait, I don’t need...” But it’s too late. She’s already hung up.

“Now you’ve done it.” Reese laughs from under the car. “All the little old ladies will be on full alert.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me?”

She scoots out from under the car and stands, two inches shorter than me, her hands on her hips. My breath catches as it always does—she’s the mirror image of our mother. Her delicate features are only an illusion to the rough and tumble personality she has.

“Because I wanted to see how important she was to you. You never tell me anything anymore unless I drag it out of you with a crowbar. You’ve been distant lately. I don’t like it. Talk to me.”

“Fine. My date sucked. I drove home and was flagged down by a woman shaking a flare at me. I brought her back here and lost her. You’re all caught up.”

“Was that so hard?”

“Yes, yes it was.”

She playfully shoves my shoulder. “I just want to be in your life.”

“You are.” My throat closes up when I try to say more, so I leave it at that.

“I’m closing up the shop. Unless you are a paying customer—scram. Oh, and take your jacket. Maya says thanks.”

“That’s it? Nothing else?”

I pick up my black leather jacket, feeling more confused than ever. Perfume drifts up from the collar, and I restrain myself from taking a whiff. Especially with Reese watching me like a hawk.

“She also mentioned something about needing volunteers at the library.”

“Oh?” I can’t stop the smile as I slide my jacket back on. I’m already rearranging my schedule for tomorrow to make time to stop by the library after work. “I’ll think about it.”

“Liar.”

“You’ll never know,” I say, laughing at her dramatic growl as I leave.

It’s a short ride to my house and colder than ever without Maya’s warmth behind me. I finally see some of the benefits of having a backpack, or passenger, riding with me.

I grab my laptop and a plate of cold leftover pizza and head out on my deck. Before I can even sit, my phone buzzes, and Cai’s goofy grin flashes on the screen. Frowning, I silence the call and let it go to voicemail. My daily social interaction is at its quota, and I know Cai is going to want to grill me about my date with his fiancé’s co-worker.

I flop onto my outdoor sofa and pop open my soda, the carbonation spewing from the can. After a long day, this spot is my haven. The world is so full of noise that sometimes I just want to hit the mute button. Chugging a few gulps, I stare at the twinkling night sky, enjoying the blissful silence of the modern world and soaking in nature’s symphony instead.

It only lasts a moment before my phone buzzes on the empty cushion next to me. It’s Cai again. He’s persistent tonight. I ignore it until there’s only the melody of crickets in the woods around my house. Their calming nighttime music has me sinking deeper into the cushions.

Not that I can relax for too long. School starts tomorrow and I still have a few—okay, a lot—of last-minute tasks to check off my list. I start with the easy stuff, editing my syllabus and my usual printouts for the first day. An email notification pops up about an updated class list, and I click the attachment before the message can finish loading. Eagerly, I scroll through each name, excited to start filling in my seating charts.

I’ve missed these kids—all of them.

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