Page 10 of The Single Dad

“I didn’t. Peter did.”

“But you didn’t return it. I know because I spent an entire weekend turning my room inside out to find it.”

“Oops, sorry.”

She gasps, pressing a hand to her chest. She has always been dramatic. “You bastards.” Then, she flips her hair over her shoulder. Like I said, dramatic. “Also, I was never a menace. I was adorable.”

I huff a quiet laugh, shaking my head. “You followed us around everywhere.”

“I did not.” Her red cheeks say otherwise.

“You did. You used to hide behind the couch when we played video games so you could spy on us.”

She scrunches her nose. “Okay, maybe. But in my defense, you guys were loud, and I had no choice but to listen.”

“Uh-huh. Sure. That’s totally reasonable.”

She grins, nudging me with her foot again. “Besides, I grew up having a huge crush on you, so of course I needed to be wherever you were.”

The memory makes me smile. “I knew that.”

“Well, I did tell you that last night.”

I bite the inside of my cheek and laugh softly. “No, I knew it before you told me.”

Noelle gasps and squeezes my bicep. “No way. How did you know?”

I tip the bottle of orange juice to my lips, enjoying her intrigue. “Peter told me. Of course, I didn’t really believe it back then. He liked to pull my leg.”

“Peter?!” She slumps on the sofa, a look of pure disbelief on her beautiful face. “That asshole. How did he know?”

“I imagine it was after he saw my name on your notebook surrounded by purple and pink hearts.”

“Oh God. I remember doing that.” Noelle hides her face in her hands and groans. “And here I thought I was good at hiding it.”

“You were. Peter was just adept at being nosy.”

“Right? That was why my diaries had locks on them, and I kept the key around my neck!”

I try hard not to smile and pretend to be engrossed in the movie. Noelle notices immediately, and she turns me to the side so I’m facing her.

“Adrian, I need you to tell me the truth. Did Peter read my diary?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my God. That bastard. When I see him, I swear?—”

“He didn’t read everything when he realized you were just obsessively recording the pupa you saw on your way to class and hatching a plan to put gum in your classmate’s hair.”

“Brie. That’s right. She was mean to me. And the pupa also didn’t become a butterfly. Something ate it.” Noelle realizes something, and she touches my forearm. I forgot how big she was on touching. “Was that why my entire pack of gum disappeared right before the weekend camp?”

“Yes. He gave it to me.”

“Oh, that. When I see him, I’m going to kill him.”

I smirk. “No, you won’t because you’ll be on the defensive.”

“Oh, right.” Noelle quiets, and I sense a shift in her mood. I mentally curse myself for reminding her of the elephant in the room. We had a good thing going, and I had to go ahead and destroy it with a few words.

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