Page 39 of The Secret We Keep
“I wish my aunt could see that. She’s been fussing around me. Thinks I can’t do anything for myself.”
“Maybe she’s just looking out for you?” I offer, even though I could say the same about my parents.
Evie stops. Walks. Then stops again. “I don’t need her to. Do you know I could cook before I was six?”
“Impressive,” I tell her honestly. “How old are you now? Eight? Nine?”
“I’m ten,” she says proudly, lifting her chin in the air.
“I think I was learning to ride my bike at ten. Not cook.” I laugh.
Her thumbs hit her chest. “Could do that at four.” She grins at me confidently.
“I bet you could.”
We keep walking until we make it to the bottom of the hill near the shop.
The bell above the door dings as it opens, and both our heads turn.
“Crap sticks.”
My eyes dash down to Evie.
“Evelyn James, wherehaveyou been?”
I follow her gaze toPaddy.
He’s wearing a similar outfit to when I last saw him. Nice jeans. A thick jumper underneath a jacket and his signature white trainers.
“With… What’s your name?” she quickly whispers, pulling my hand towards her.
“Morgan,” I whisper back.
Paddy drops his chin and shifts his weight on one foot. He’s trying to be serious, but I see the way he looks at Evie.
It’s endearing.
“I was with Morgan, we were… walking. Yeah. Walking.”
He peers at my clothes, eyes remaining on my legs for longer than necessary, causing my muscles to tighten. “She looks like she was running, and your laces are untied.”
Evie looks down at her feet.
“Doubt you ran anywhere.”
She lets go of my hand with an over-the-top sigh. “Fine.”
Paddy smiles at her, taking a step forward. “Listen, lady.”
Evie scoffs next to me.
“As shit as it might be, you’re here for the long haul. I know you hate the countryside, trust me, I hated it too once. But you’ll grow to love it. I promise.”
Evie crosses her arms then looks up at me. “Do you love it?”
I force a happy expression. “Yeah,” I tell her, nodding my head.
She grumbles. “You’re lying.”
