Page 74 of Suits and Spark Plugs

Mom reached out and put her cool hand on my bare shoulder. “I know what happened. The day he came to our house and cleaned up, I knew. He’s very charming.” I nodded. “I’ve been thinking about him a bit since that day, and I think I should have been more sympathetic toward him and less judgmental.” I cocked my head to the side, willing her to continue. “A lot of people go through a wild phase as teenagers, but maybe his excessive dating was nothing more than a hurting boy looking for the connection he’d lost when his mother left.”

Neither of us said anything as I processed that for a moment. It shaped his actions in a different light and tugged on my heartstrings. I was learning how it felt to be left by a parent, only I was an adult with more understanding. How would I have behaved differently if I had been a child living through this confusing time?

After a moment, Mom broke the silence. “He’s the reason you’re hiding away?”

I shrugged. “I realized a few days ago that I do like him. A lot. The feelings are like being hit by a bolt of lightning that does nothing but burn, made worse because I know he’s upset with me.”

She nodded, her eyes thoughtful. “I heard about the incident with Levi, and it’s okay to hide out for a little bit, but you might be pushing it.”

“Three days is too much?”

“I think so. Eat some lunch and take a shower. You’ll feel a lot better.” She stood and walked to the portraits. “I think you should probably put these away too. Blaine was a nice man, but he wasn’t for you, and Connor breaks your heart a little every time you look over here.” At my nod she picked up the canvases and took them to my closet, where she slid them in behind my hanging clothes. She moved back to my pile of art and selected a bright sunflower. “Here, this is better. A little sunshine is always in order.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“I love you, Liv.” She came over to kiss the top of my head before leaving my room. “I’m headed back to work. I’ll see you at dinnertime.”

“I love you too.” Oh my gosh, it was amazing to have my mom working her way back to us.

An hour later I was towel drying my hair after a long, luxurious, wallowing bath when Kelly showed up outside my bathroom door. I screamed in surprise when I saw her face pop into my mirror, which made her snicker.

“My mom call you?” I asked.

“Oh, yeah. I know everything.” She leaned against the doorway and crossed her arms. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun on the top of her head, her makeup smudged under her eyes, and she smelled a little like roast beef. She must have come straight from work.

“What exactly is everything?” I asked, leaning against the bathroom counter in a similar pose.

“Staring at portraits, not eating, not showering.”

“I’ve been better.”

She gave me a sympathetic look. “You faked it pretty well at work. I thought you were just a little bummed out. I didn’t realize you had fallen down into the dark abyss of heartbreak.” I pushed away from the countertop and gestured for her to follow me into my room. As we crossed the threshold she said, “You ready to spill it?”

I nodded. “Maybe it would be better if I just showed you the pictures I painted.”

She climbed up onto my bed as she had a thousand times before, taking her usual place leaning back against the foot board, legs outstretched. From the corner of my eye I saw her roll her shoulders and head, loosening muscles that always got tight while waitressing.

The paintings were easy to retrieve, and I brought them to the bed with me. Climbing up against the headboard, I laid them between us, face up. Kelly sat upright and looked them over. Her brows dropped as she studied them, lifting them up to see from a different angle. Her face was unreadable, but she chewed her lower lip, which told me she was deep in thought.

Finally, just when I thought I’d burst, she looked up at me. “I’d ask how long you’ve been in love with Connor, but I think I already know the answer.”

Warmth filled my face. “First of all, love is a strong word. I’m not in love with him.”

“The paintings say otherwise.” She looked down at Connor’s again and then back to Blaine’s. “It’s crazy to see my hunch spelled out so clearly like this. I mean, I knew you were holding back with Blaine, but no wonder you were. He looks cool and distant here, which is how your heart must have seen him. And Connor, I mean, wow. He looks like he’d start you on fire if you touched him.” Her eyes came back up to meet mine. “Your face is telling me things you don’t want to admit.” Her voice was gentle, and I leaned back.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” she asked as she set both paintings back down.

“You wanted to date Connor.”

A laugh burst out and she slapped her hand over her mouth. “I did. I’d almost forgotten,” she said through her fingers. “I don’t anymore. He’s not for me. My heart is full of Scott, and I have no regrets or doubts about him.”

Tension I didn’t realize I’d been holding released in a rush and my shoulders dropped. “Okay, good, because I really, really like Scott for you.” She kicked out a foot and tapped my calf in acknowledgment. “I mean this seriously, though, Kell. I’m not actually in love with Connor.” She kicked me again and raised her eyebrows. “I know it looks that way, but I’m not. I’m attracted to him and I like to be around him. I think it could become love if it was given a chance.”

“Okay, I’ll accept that answer if you’ll admit that you’ve been crushing on him since we were fourteen years old and saw that amazing head of hair floating over the others in the high school cafeteria.”

I leaned my head back and giggled. “I have not. He was nothing more than an interesting specimen to study, scientifically.”

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