Page 68 of Shake the Habit

“That was fun,” Aria agreed. “We were really bad spies, though.”

“I don’t need to be one anymore, but I’m not quite sure how to go about things if I’m not acting that way. What if I do something to hurt him somehow? What if I do something to ruin it? He keeps saying that he’s not good at relationships but clearly, one of us is worse. Me,” I filled in when they seemed not to understand.

“You’re very good at relationships with us,” Aria volunteered. “You always keep in touch. You listen when we talk and you’re fun to be with.”

“And you’ve given really good advice to Marc and Taygen,” Cass said. We sat down at a table in the food court.

“It hasn’t worked yet,” I noted, but she said that was due to Marc and Taygen, not to my solid tips.

“It seems like you’re doing great with Caleb,” Aria told me. “Last week when we were over at Sage’s house, he couldn’t keep away from you. And when they forced him to go play baseball in theyard, he kept looking at the windows to try to catch a glimpse of you.”

“He’s even worse at baseball than my husband,” Cassidy said. “Jack is relieved about that.”

“You know why he sucks at sports? Because he was totally isolated as a kid. His mom locked the two of them away from the world. Then she dropped him, too, the witch,” I said, but then felt bad when I remembered Caleb’s theory about why she’d acted that way. “I need to talk to Aunt Paula about her.”

“Y’all are back on speaking terms?” Aria asked.

“Mostly.” We were both making an effort, me to be civil and Aunt Paula to keep her inner monologue private. Anyway, that was enough on this topic because I was tired of worrying about myself. “What are you and Jack up to?” I asked Cass. “Are you already working on another song?”

We did have lunch together, but it was quick because Aria had to get back and I also felt some anxiety about being away from Sir and Caleb for too long. Of course they were fine together, and nothing more had happened with the man who was trying to steal our dog away from us. But they were at the farmhouse today, checking on things and meeting with Marc about the next steps, and that place gave me anxiety.

We had put up our empty trays but suddenly, Cassidy stopped walking and Aria plowed into her. “What are you doing?” I asked.

“Speak of the devil,” she said, but it wasn’t the person I was thinking about, the person I was always thinking about lately. Like whenever I heard the word “Cayman” or…

But this was not Caleb. We all stared at the various members of Taygen’s family, her mother, father, and one of her brothers. They weren’t seated too far away and they were openly staring in our direction.

“We have to be nice no matter what,” Aria warned, speaking without moving her lips very much. “I still think that she and Marc will get back together and imagine seeing them at the wedding. And at holidays. And christenings. And everything else!”

“Unlike some people,wehave manners,” Cassidy reminded us. “Let’s walk by and nod casually.”

We prepared to do that, putting on the expression that Aunt Amber would have called “pleasant yet aloof.” It had been reserved for when other kids were behaving poorly at pageants. We’d been reminded to remember where we came from and to be “pleasant yet aloof.”

Taygen’s family definitely noticed us. Her father stood up, right in our path, and her brother pushed back his chair. All right, then. We would have to put Cass in the back for protection, due to her pregnancy, and Aria was sadly useless when things got physical. So this was on me. I mentally prepared, glad that my fingernails were still long even after all the gardening that Caleb and I been doing.

“I hope you’re proud of how your cousin has treated my daughter,” Mr. Stock told us. His face was the ruddy red color of an old drunk, and I remembered how Marc had talked about his alcohol use.

“We’re not going to discuss their relationship with you,” Cassidy answered calmly. “That’s their business, not ours.” She turned but Taygen’s brother got up and blocked her way. “Really?” she asked him. “Ryker, what are you doing?”

We’d known him in high school and he’d always been kind of an idiot, but he and I had gone out a few times anyway. I didn’t remember it too much. “He hurt my sister,” he mumbled, but he did step aside, and as he moved, Taygen appeared behind him carrying a few shopping bags.

She stood there shaking her head. “Daddy! What are you doing? Why are you bothering them?”

“They should know where the fault lies.” And to my surprise, that man pointed right at me. “This is the one who led Marc astray.”

“Ew!” Cassidy said. “They’re cousins and that’s disgusting.”

“I mean with her behavior!” he angrily told her, and turned on me. “He was a good man until you started working there with him. You, with your drugs and whoring around! We all know.”

“Daddy, stop it!” Taygen said furiously.

“She doesn’t do those things!” Aria said, just as mad, but…I didn’t feel like I had a lot to say to defend myself.

Taygen did, though. “What happened with me and Marc was not because Kayleigh! All she did was try to help! She wasn’t the problem, but other people were. You know what she told me? Y’all are the reason that we broke up!” She pointed at her family members and they turned their glares in my direction.

Images of uncomfortable holiday parties flitted through my mind. “Uh…”

“And Kayleigh was right!” she continued. “I let you be mean to Marc. I let you treat him so badly that I’m ashamed of myself. I’m ashamed of you.” She turned to Aria. “Can you give me a ride home? I don’t want to be with them anymore.”

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