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The boy I’ve thought about every day for almost four years. Oh my God, and I’m wearing a dress?! With tights?! I look like I’m ready for church, not to hang out.
I bury my face in my hands. I think I’m gonna throw up.
My car door opens, and I glance over to find my mother sending me one of her famous death stares.
“Get out of the car,” she hisses out in a low tone. “What is the matter with you?”
Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I unbuckle my seatbelt and come to stand beside my mom.
“Hey, Daph!” Jonsie bounces over to me, tossing her arms around my neck and pulling me into a hug.
“It’s Daphne, sweetheart,” my mother corrects, slowly pronouncing my name like Joanna’s an idiot. She releases me, all the while eyeing my mom.
I shuffle my feet several times before finding the courage to glance up at Jonsie’s brother. I’m being stupid. He probably doesn’t even remember me.
We lock eyes and, yeah, no, he definitely knows who I am. Nicky stands beside Jonsie’s mom, which makes me realize how tall he’s gotten. Geez, he’s her height. Aside from the growth spurt, he looks just like I remember. Same messy blond hair. Same light blue eyes. Even the look on his face is the same—head tilted slightly to the side, eyeing me suspiciously.
God, I’d been such a weirdo that day. Constantly bringing up that his mom was dead, then going off about unicorn wishes. It wasn’t weird to me at the time, but looking back? Ugh. Kill me now.
How long have we been standing here like this? It can’t be more than a few seconds, right? Crap. This is so awkward. Say something, idiot. Anything!
“Hi, Nicky.” I offer up a halfhearted wave.
“Daphne?” he whispers, eyes narrowed like he’s wondering if I’m really here.
“It’s Daph.” I’m quick to correct him.
“No, it isn’t,” my mother butts in.
Nicky stares at me a few moments longer, his gaze shifting between me and my mom. When his eyes make their way back to mine, his mouth twists into a wide grin. Oh, God. I’ve never seen Nicky smile. At least not like that, and I’m not ready for the butterflies it sets loose in my stomach.
“Hey, Daph,” he officially greets me, and I feel my face grow hot.
“It’s Daphne,” my mother insists once more.
“No, it isn’t,” Nicky and I answer at the same time, eyes still locked on one another.
“Okay!” Jonsie’s mom claps her hands together with a cheerful smile while approaching my mother. “I am Shannon Conners. Welcome to our home.” Mrs. Conners politely extends a hand to my mom. She takes it, though eyes Mrs. Conners’ jeans and hoodie combo in a way that lets me know she’s judging her hard.
“Oh, I’ve been here before.” My mom gives her hand the girliest shake I’ve ever seen before dropping it like she’s diseased. “Back when the original Mrs. Conners lived here.”
Nicky’s head snaps to the right, hands fisting at his sides like he’s trying to resist hitting my mom. For a second, I worry he might actually do it, but then his stepmom’s hand comes to rest on his shoulder. He’s still angry, for sure, but her touch obviously settles him.
The sight makes me happy. For years I worried he was all alone. But seeing them together makes me realize that’s not the case.
Mrs. Conners smiles warmly, showing my mother more kindness than she deserves. “You knew Gabby? That’s lovely. Were you close?”
“Gabriella was a dear friend,” my mother lies. My parents don’t spend any real time with me, but judging by how desperate she is for this connection to Mitch Conners, I know there’s no way she had any real friendship with Nicky’s mom.
Nicky scoffs, and I don’t miss the reassuring squeeze of Mrs. Conners’ hand on his shoulder as she continues. “I have to tell you, I’m embarrassed to admit I think I messed up when talking to Mitch before. He asked who was coming over, and I must have told him the wrong name. I thought it was Burke. How embarrassing.”
“No. No,” my mother speaks up. “You got it right. Burke. Christopher and Belinda Burke.”
“Hmmm.” Mrs. Conners seems confused for a moment. “That’s strange. When I told Mitch your name, he said he had no idea who you were. Nicky, did I say Burke, or did I mess that up?”
“Nah, Ma.” A mischievous smirk spreads across his face as he leans into his stepmom, allowing her to wrap her arm around him. “You said Burke. I was there.”
My mother’s face turns red with anger, and I can practically see the smoke coming out of her ears. There’s not a doubt in my mind she’s never going to let me stay now, and though that kills me, it’s worth it to see what a real family looks like.
