Page 155 of Well That Happened

“Iwas,” I offer.

She gives me a look.

Then turns on her heel and disappears back into the dining room.

Hunter exhales hard. “We’re so screwed.”

“Yeah,” I agree. “But at least we’ll be full.”

“Come on.”

Chapter Forty-Five

Caleb

The kitchen smells like vanilla and dish soap and something cinnamon-sugar that’s probably still cooling on a tray somewhere.

I’m elbow-deep in soapy water, rinsing plates while my mom dries with one of those holiday tea towels she breaks out the second December hits.

“Thanks for helping, sweetie,” she says, bumping my hip gently with hers. “You’re the only one who remembers where the damn colander goes.”

I grin. “Because I’m your favorite.”

“You keep telling yourself that,” she says, but she’s smiling. I’m right though…I am her favorite.

We work in comfortable silence for a few beats, water sloshing, silverware clinking.

Then she asks, “So… how’s school?”

“Busy. But good. My stats professor’s a troll and our new strength coach thinks pain is a personality trait, but I’m surviving.”

She nods, already half-listening. “And hockey?”

“Solid. We’ve got a good shot at playoffs if we don’t implode.”

“Good.” She dries another plate. “And Rilee?”

I fumble a spoon.

It clatters into the sink with a splash.

Mom glances at me, amused. “What?”

“Nothing,” I say too fast, grabbing the spoon like it betrayed me. “She’s great. Smart. Funny. She’s, uh… been good for me.”

My mom gives me a knowing look. “Good I’m glad you’re happy. And that girl’s sharp. You can tell she’s going places.”

“Yeah,” I say, smiling faintly. “She’s… kind of amazing.”

It’s easy to talk about Rilee.

It’s not as easy tothinkabout where she is right now.

Because I noticed.

Of course I noticed.

One minute, we’re all happy and full of pie and pretending not to be aroused at the dinner table, and the next?

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