Page 89 of Spencer and the Younger Girl
“Come to Hadley.” She patted the canvas tarp beside her. “Just not too close. I don’t want to be a blueberry.”
He laughed as he took a seat beside her.
“I swear, I need to start charging the Lee family for my unsolicited advice.” Mrs. Lee, Spencer, and now Damien. It probably wouldn’t be long before the more reserved Mr. Lee needed some tough love too.
Damien shook his head at that. “We’re kind of a mess right now, aren’t we?”
Hadley shared a look with Gabe, and they both answered at the same time. “Yes.”
“But…” Hadley nudged him. “Your family’s problems can be fixed because at the end of the day, you all love each other. Not all of us get that.”
“No, we don’t,” Gabe agreed.
Hadley studied Gabe for a moment. He’d been kicked out of his own home and forced to live with family friends… all because of who he was.
Her mom may have abandoned her time and again, but at least she had her grandpa.
“So,” she started. “Why do you think your mom knows?”
He sighed. “I overheard a conversation with my dad. She said something about telling me she knows what I’m up to, that I let someone else take the blame. I didn’t understand that part, but she seems to think I’m getting away with something and is torn about it.” One of his shoulders lifted in a shrug. “What else could it be?”
A laugh burst out of Hadley, and she clapped a hand over her mouth.
Gabe and Damien both scowled at her.
“I’m sorry. It’s not funny that you’re worried about her finding out about you two. That’s a serious subject.” She laughed again. “But I really don’t think that was what she was talking about.”
“How do you know?” Damien’s face looked so worried her smile fell.
“It’s about the goats.”
“Oh no.” Gabe groaned. “Damien, tell me you didn’t?”
“Didn’t what?” Damien looked from Gabe to Hadley.
She stifled another laugh. “She knows I didn’t steal the goats.”
Damien’s eyes widened in understanding.
“Well.” Gabe laughed. “Guess that’s my answer. You helped her put goats in your school?”
“Of course he helped me.” Hadley bit back a grin. “I wouldn’t have actually stolen goats. Both Damien and Spencer were there.”
A laugh rumbled in Gabe’s chest. “Spencer helped with a prank? Please, tell me more.” He leaned across Damien to get closer to her. “How did you get the good-boy Lee brothers to pull an epic school prank?”
“They’re not both good boys.” She winked, remembering how just the day before Spencer yanked her into this very office and kissed her until they heard Mr. Lee heading their way.
“Ew, gross.” Damien covered his ears. “Spencer’s brother here.”
Hadley ignored him as she focused on Gabe. “You tell me your stories, and I’ll tell you mine.”
Damien dropped his hands and glared at Gabe. “You better not.”
Gabe’s eyes twinkled like he was considering it. “Well, Damien likes it when I—”
Damien lunged for him, slapping a hand over his mouth. Gabe’s laughter ended in a grunt as he landed on his back.
“Ummm…” Hadley bit her fist. “This is all kinds of adorable, but Damien, you totally just got paint all over Gabe.”
