Page 36 of Because You Loved Me

Levi finishes dishing out dinner for everyone and sits down. “When did you get that? I don’t remember you having one yesterday.”

I look down at the table. “I sometimes cover it with makeup.”

Micah nudges my arm. “You shouldn’t. It’s cool. I’d get a tattoo if my brother would let me.”

Tobias jerks his head up. “What?”

“I mean, a tattoo would be cool,” Micah says, scooping up a potato from his bowl.

“You’re too young.” Tobias clenches his spoon.

“I knew you’d say that,” Micah mumbles.

I watch as Skyler fishes out a piece of sausage from her soup. “Blow on it before you eat it, okay?”

She nods. “Okay.”

I look at Micah. “I heard you singing last night. You’re pretty good.”

He blushes and ducks his head. “You heard that?”

“Well, sort of. I couldn’t tell which song you were singing. But I could hear you had a great singing voice.”

“Thanks.” Micah’s face turns three shades of red.

“What’s the name of your YouTube channel? I want to go watch your videos.” I take a sip of the soup.

“You’re being careful on the Internet, right?” Tobias asks.

Micah makes a face. “I’m careful. I don’t post my real name. I don’t even show my face.” He turns to me. “It’s Midnight Velocity.”

“Ooh,” I say. “That’s a cool name. I’ll look it up after I get done quilting with Ellie.”

Tobias finally looks at me. “You’re busy tonight?”

“Sorry, did I forget to mention it?” I was pretty sure he was there when Ellie invited me to quilt with her and the other ladies on Wednesdays. Maybe he forgot.

He pulls out his cell phone. “You’d better give me your cell number, in case something happens, and I need to get a hold of you.”

I shake my head. “I don’t have one.”

Levi and Micah stare at me like I’m an alien. “You don’t have one?” Tobias finally asks.

“No.” Most phones were out of my price range, and there were advantages to not being reachable.

“All right.” Tobias puts his phone away. “How late will you be out?”

“Ellie’s coming to pick me up at seven, but I don’t know how long we’ll quilt.” I scoop another generous bite of the soup.

“I’ll text Ellie then.” Tobias shoves his spoon into his bowl, and it clanks.

I stare at him. Something’s wrong, but I can’t pinpoint what it is. “Is it okay that I’m helping the quilters tonight?”

“Yes. Of course.” He waves away my question but still doesn’t meet my gaze.

I’m tired of trying to figure him out, so I go back to my soup. “How’s the job hunting going?” I ask Levi. He’d been filling out paperwork earlier.

“Fine. I’m applying at the diner where Savannah works.” Levi looks around the table as his brothers stare back at him.

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