Page 9 of No More Words

“Who’s Josh?” Amber asks, piercing through the fog of Olivia’s shock.

“Lily’s son.”

Amber stares at her before her mouth falls open. “Your sister Lily?” Olivia nods. “Get out.” Amber softly whistles, her gaze fixed on the boy rooted to the sidewalk.

Olivia snuffs out her Marlboro on the concrete step and stands. Amber joins her, setting aside her wineglass.

“What’s your name?” Olivia asks to be sure she’s right, that he’s her nephew.

Her heart beats faster over that thought. Nephew. Never in a million years did she expect to meet Lily and Ethan’s son. “Your name,” she repeats when he stares blankly at her. “Who are you?”

His mouth parts and after a few beats, he says, “Josh.”

She exhales roughly, feeling shaky. She shouldn’t have snuffed out her cigarette. What the heck is Lily’s son doing here? And where is she? Olivia looks in the direction the Continental went, waiting for Lily to appear like a desert mirage.

“Come here, Josh.” He doesn’t budge. She waves her hand, beckoning him closer. “It’s okay, come here.”

His feet shuffle as if he’s debating what to do. He glances from her to Amber and back. His hands tighten on his backpack straps and he takes a tentative step, then another. And another. He stops a few feet from them.

Now that he’s closer, Olivia hungrily absorbs his features in the waning evening light. Hazel eyes watch her closely, inspecting. A scattering of freckles dusts his nose bridge, same as they did when she and Lily were his age. Olivia covered hers with a thick layer of foundation during her tween years. She hated her freckles. They look sweet on Josh. He’s a good-looking kid. Reminds her of Lucas.

Jesus.Lucas.

Wait until he hears about Josh.

After Lily ran away, Olivia hounded Lucas for details about what exactly went down. He wouldn’t tell her. He flat-out refused. Ever since, they haven’t discussed Lily. The few times Olivia brought up their sister in conversation, Lucas retreated. He’d disappear into himself or he’d blow her off, ignoring her texts and declining her calls, which wasn’t unusual. Ever since he was sixteen and spent six months in juvenile hall, Lucas has been unreliable. Unpredictable, too.

Josh adjusts the pack on his shoulders. His mouth opens and closes and then he scowls, his nostrils flaring with a rapid expulsion of air. Worry wrinkles the narrow band of forehead under the bill of his cap. He looks at Amber.

“What?” she asks, sounding as confused as Olivia feels with his funky facial twitching. He’s frustrated about something.

He points at himself. “Josh.” He then points at Amber.

“Oh.” She smiles. “I’m Amber.”

He points at Olivia next.

“Olivia. I’m your mom’s sister,” she says. “Your ... aunt.” She struggles with the title. It’s the first time she’s ever referred to herself that way.

The tension in Josh’s expression eases instantly. His eyes rapidly blink and Olivia worries he’ll burst into tears. As much as she hates who his parents are, she wants to bundle him up and tell him he’s safe with her.

Amber thrusts out her hand. “I’m your aunt’s friend. Nice to meet you, Josh.”

He doesn’t reach for Amber’s palm, just stares at it. Olivia’s chest tightens with worry. Why is he here alone?

“Where’s your mom?” she asks.

“I ...” He stalls.

“Who’s that woman who dropped you off?” Olivia looks toward the end of the street again, miffed the lady took off without telling her when Lily would be here, or how long Josh intended to stay.

Josh shrugs.

“You don’t know where she is?”

He extends his arm, thumb out. Does he mean what she thinks he means? He hitchhiked his way here? That would explain why Lincoln Continental lady drove off without an explanation. But does Lily know? What if Josh ran away from home?

Wouldn’t that be the icing on their dysfunctional family cake? Josh ditching his mom like Lily ran away from them.

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