Page 21 of Burning Daylight
“I didn’t just randomly decide to drag you here, I actually talked to Bevie last week.”
“Bevie.” I falter. “Why are you talking to my childhood nanny?”
She shrugs. “She checks in on you from time to time.”
Warmth spreads through me. I love Beverly. She’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a mom.
“She called me the other day and said your mother had thatlookin her eye.”
“A look,” I reply flatly.
“Yeah, and don’t pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about. It’s that twitchy, soul-snatching stare, like she’s already picked out the earrings you’ll wear at your funeral.”
I cringe, because honestly, I could see my mother doing it. “That’s morbid.”
“Bevie was worried,” she continues. “Especially once I told her how mopey you’ve been lately.”
“Well, you shouldn’t have told her that, then.”
She shrugs. “Agree to disagree. Anyway, she’s the one that hooked a girl up with these art show tickets.”
“You want me to believeBeverlygot tickets to this? An art show. In California.”
Felicity knocks her shoulder into mine as we stop walking. “You can believe whatever you want, but I’m telling you the truth. I guess she used to visit here or something. She also told me about some coffee shop around the corner, The Em-Tee Cup.”
I stare at her. Beverly never—not once—mentioned she knew the area when I talked about coming here for college.
“How’d she get the tickets?”
“Have you met Bevie? She’s terrifying. Obviously, I didn’t ask.”
That’s true. Beverly is not known for her soft edges.
“Why’d she pick an art show?” I muse, mostly to myself.
“She said you used to draw pictures with sidewalk chalk when you were little and then make up stories to go with them. Made Alex act them out with you. She probably thought you’d like it.”
A reluctant smile tugs at my lips.
“I miss that girl,” I admit, glancing at the wall beside us.
One of the pieces is all jagged lines and burnt orange chaos, signed RMO in the corner.
“Me too,” Felicity says quietly.
It feels like a moment happening here. Like we’ve stepped into the past just enough to remember who we used to be, before we grew up and had to start thinking about things like our futures, and what we’d allow in them.
Or in my case, what my parents will allow.
Felicity perks up, body straightening as she spots Keagan.
“There he is, come on.” She tries to tug me with her, but I let my arm slip from hers, grimacing.
“You go ahead. I’m gonna look around. Try to find some sidewalk chalk or something.”
She smirks. “Yeah, fine, but don’t get lost. Andremember: stranger danger…unless he’s volunteering that good dick we talked about.”
I wave her off.
