Page 30 of My Return to the Walter Boys
“You know what sounds really good right now?”
When Benny shook his head, Cole crooked a finger at him,gesturing for his brother to lean in, then held a hand up to the side of his mouth like he was about to share a secret. “McDonald’s,” he stage whispered.
That must have been the magic word, because Benny immediately stopped crying. “I spent all my money on the onion.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Cole told him, his eyes soft. “This will be my treat. Just you, me, and Zack Attack. How does that sound?”
“Can I get a Happy Meal and a milkshake?”
Cole grinned and ruffled Benny’s hair. “Chocolate or vanilla?”
Six
I couldn’t stop thinking about Cole, not after witnessing how sweet he’d been with Benny yesterday afternoon. It was tiny moments like that that made me wish things could be different between us. I wanted to talk to someone about it, but I didn’t trust my friends not to dismiss my very legitimate concerns and push me back into his arms for the sole reason being he was Cole Walter. Then there was Nathan. He was usually an objective listener, but I was convinced he was holding something back from me. Until I knew what that was, I wasn’t willing to reveal any more of my feelings to him.
That only left Danny, and I winced. I hadn’t spoken to him since returning to Colorado, but if there was one person who knew Cole the best, it was his twin.
There was little privacy in my new room, so I slipped out the back door and climbed the tree house ladder. Once I was ensconced in thegreenery where I knew our conversation wouldn’t be overheard, I pulled up Danny’s contact and tapped the video call icon.
He answered on the first ring. “Hey, stranger. I was starting to wonder if I’d ever hear from you again.”
It was dark wherever he was, but the sight of Danny’s wry smile instantly took me home to lazy strolls in Central Park, lingering dinners at our favorite sushi bar, and lengthy discussions after each and every Broadway show we attended. It struck me as strange how I now associated one of the Walter boys with the city I grew up in.
“Sorry, things have been intense since I got back,” I told him.
Danny shifted, then a light switched on. He was lying in bed in what used to be the guest room of my family’s apartment. Now I thought of the room as his. “Have they? Or are you avoiding talking to me because of Cole?”
I sighed. “You heard what happened, then.”
“His side of things.” Danny propped himself up against the headboard. “I also spent the whole summer watching you struggle, so I know there’s more to the story than what he said. And before you ask, I won’t be telling you anything about our conversation.”
“I’d never expect you to.” When he lifted an eyebrow in thatgo onway of his I’d become accustomed to, I laughed and added, “Okay, maybe I was avoiding you a little.”
“Why?” he asked. “I know we haven’t known each other long, but you’re family now, Jackie. You could break Cole’s heart, and I’d still answer every one of your calls. Day or night, I swear. Even if I knewyou needed help disposing of a body or something nefarious like that.”
“Wow. There’s a lot to unpack here, but most importantly—Cole said I broke his heart? Why would you be okay with that?”
“Ah, ah, ah! No questions about my conversation with Cole, remember? I said youcouldbreak his heart, not that you did, and I’d be okay with it because you’re not a malicious person. You would neverwantto hurt him. Also, I’m insulted. Out of everything I said, is that really what you thought was most important?”
“No, actually, it was the part about helping me get rid of a body if I ever needed it,” I teased. “I bet you’d be a great accomplice after watching all those crime shows.”
Danny made a face. “Is that all I’m good for? How to Get Away with Murder 101?”
I pretended to think for a moment. “Well, you’re also a phenomenal shoulder to cry on.” And I had—many, many times. I’d have racked up a monstrous dry cleaning bill if Danny wore something other than cotton tees on the daily.
“Thanks, I guess,” he said dryly.
My heart squeezed in my chest. God, I missed this—our open conversations, the easy back-and-forth, his subtle sense of humor. Now that we were more than a thousand miles apart, I selfishly wished I’d heeded Cole’s plea to keep Danny from falling in love with New York. If I had, then maybe he’d be here with me right now.
“Hey, Danny?” I said in a quiet voice.
“Yeah?”
“You’re my family too.”
A soft smile stretched across his face. “Then I expect weekly updates.”
“Phones work both ways,” I said, shifting mine to my other hand. “If you were feeling neglected, why didn’t you reach out?”
