Page 36 of Begin Again

“You have seriously never had a pizza before? I mean, that’s kind of weird,” Ethan wondered aloud. Monica gave him a light punch in the arm.

“None of us is really normal, Ethan,” she said. “Just look at us. I’m fascinated by fingernails.”

“I’m obsessed with red hair,” Spencer said, his mouth full. Dawn stiffened next to me. “I’m serious, if a woman has red hair, she’s ten times hotter in my eyes.”

I laughed.

“You’ve lost it, man.” Shaking his head, Kaden leaned back and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“What? Monica is right. None of us is really normal,” Spencer retorted. “You have relationship problems, for some reason Allie never ordered pizza, Monica loves nails, and Dawn… has red hair.” Spencer blinked several times.

Everyone snorted with laughter except for Dawn, who was blushing.

“I don’t have relationship problems,” Kaden said. “It’s my choice to avoid a relationship.”

“Yeah, and look what you miss,” Monica chuckled, pointing to herself. “Exhibit A.”

Kaden just rolled his eyes.

“You’re an ass, but you know what? I still love you!” She jumped up and hugged him. He grimaced as she kissed his check and tried half-heartedly to disentangle himself from her.

I wasn’t the only one who saw him smile.

The following week I spent a lot of time with Kaden and his friends. Dawn always came over the moment her roommate was entertaining a man—which happened quite a lot—and we tried out all the delivery services in the area.

Living with Kaden was getting easier. He even started letting me use his TV when he wasn’t there. And when he was there, he didn’t kick me off the couch, but let me stay and watch series with him.

This afternoon we watched a superhero flick. In the morning I had finished my last literature exam, and to celebrate we ordered a huge box of sushi.

The doorbell rang, and I jumped.

“Are you expecting someone?” Kaden asked.

I shook my head and got up, since he was still eating. I went to the door and peered through the peephole.

No. No way.I caught my breath.

It was my mother.

---