Page 78 of Spencer and the Younger Girl
“Yeah… that.”
“Spencer Lee.” She poked his chest. “Are you dating her?”
“Not dating exactly. But I really don’t see how it’s any of your business, Vic.”
“Just looking out for you.”
“Yeah, well you lost that right a long time ago.”
“Whoa. Okay.” She held her hands up in surrender.
“I’m sorry.” He rubbed his eyes. She was right about Hadley being young, but he hadn’t thought of that when he was kissing her. Victoria wasn’t the enemy. If anything, she was the one person who understood him. The one person who knew why he’d needed to leave.
“You okay, Spencer?” She rubbed his arm. “I mean, really okay?”
“I’m trying to be.” It was the truth. He didn’t want to feel like a stranger in his own home. He didn’t want to struggle with things that happened three years ago. “So, what brings you by today?”
“Would you hate me if I said I’m checking up on you?”
“I could never hate you.” They’d been friends too long for that.
That earned him a smile he’d missed in his time away. “Just… after you found out about the engagement and the pregnancy…”
“Is that Victoria?” His mom appeared on the front porch, cutting off their talk. “It has been too long, young lady.”
“Mama.” Victoria leaped up the steps. She’d referred to Spencer’s mom as mama since she was a kid. The two women embraced, and Spencer looked away.
It was the kind of reunion he’d pictured with his parents instead of the icy welcome he’d received.
“Look at you.” His mom pulled back. “You’re glowing.”
Spencer couldn’t handle the warmth in his mom’s voice any longer. “That’s because she’s pregnant, Ma.” He walked past them into the house.
Victoria wasn’t the one he wanted to talk to. She was no longer the girl he dreamed about at night.
In the kitchen, the rest of the family—including Hadley—sat around the table with plates of food in front of them. Hadley talked joyfully, her hands moving with her words. His dad cackled at whatever she said, and her face lit up.
She took a bite of her sandwich, and her eyes found him, dimming as they did.
Footsteps sounded behind him, and his mom rushed in with Victoria at her side. “Look who is joining us for lunch.”
Spencer’s dad and brother jumped up to give her hugs.
“My spring break was this week, so I decided to come see what Spencer was up to.”
“Spencer,” his mom snapped. “Show some chivalry. Pull a chair out for your guest. She can sit next to you.”
As Spencer obeyed his mom, he avoided Hadley’s keen gaze. If she looked too closely, she’d see everything he tried to hide.
