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“Wren!”??
I turned around and there was Alex, with his megawatt smile, as if this afternoon had never happened. I felt my own smile grow.
Behind him was a boy I didn’t recognize. He had blond hair and bright, icy blue eyes. I looked down, away from his eyes. My stomach dropped.
It’s not him. It’s not him.
I fought to look up at him, school my face into an emotionless one. He was about Alex’s height, maybe an inch shorter. He didn’t look anything like creepy Kevin, but those eyes. . .
“Wren, this is Jonathan."
CHAPTER 15
ALEX
I dribbledthe ball back and forth, my mind not really in the one-on-one game I was playing with Jonathan.
It was Sunday, and Jonathan's parents were on a weekend getaway. Wren and Ma were at the senior center helping with lunch today. I was supposed to go with them, but Jonathan called the house and asked to hang out, just the two of us today.
“Alex.” Jon’s tone was irritated. My mind hadn’t been in the game this entire time. I may have been with him, but my mind was on Wren.
“I’m sorry, man.” I passed the ball to him and he ran up the court, making a basket.
We were at his house, in his family’s personal court. I looked down at my shoes that he had bought just for whenever I was here, because they didn’t use outside shoes here. Something about not wanting to mess up the floor.
“It’s fine. Your mind is on her, right?” He bounced the ball through his legs and passed it to me. I mimicked his moves before trying one of my own, passing it back to him.
“Yeah.” I had talked to Ma about getting a part-time job for awhile. I wanted to make some money and buy Wren some things. Everything she had, as little as it may have been, had been burned up in the fire. Ma wouldn’t have it though. I hadpulled my head out of my ass right at the end of school, managing, with Wren’s help, to raise all my grades to Bs and Cs. We were coming up on our senior year, and she wanted us to enjoy the summer before.
“How’s she doing?” Jon asked, breaking away from the court to the side where he had a water cooler.
“Good. Her and Ma are working down at the senior center today."
Jon’s face screwed up. “You know, I noticed that she wears a lot of your hoodies to school.”
“Yeah.” I caught the ball at my chest, dribbling toward the basket and taking a shot. “Most of her clothes burned in the fire so she doesn’t have much. Her and Ma will look at the shelter's community closet to see if there is anything that will fit her.”
I didn’t miss the way Jon’s nose scrunched in disgust. He knew my situation. He knew that we weren’t rolling in cash like his family was. Even now, taking Wren in had taken its toll on my Ma, but she hadn’t said anything.
I watched as Jon schooled his face and continued on like he wasn’t revolted at the knowledge that we got our clothes used.
I tried to not be offended or upset by his reaction.
“You should bring her to my birthday party,” he said then, and I paused. I had completely forgotten about his birthday, if I was being honest. He’d had a party every year since we’d met. It was always a big deal that he invited a ton of people from our school.
“I don’t know if that’s something she would be up for.” I hesitated to jump on the offer. Wren was getting better, yes, but I didn’t want to push her too fast out of her comfort zone. She set the pace and I followed.
“Well, the invite is open for her to come if that means you will go. You are allowed to have other friends, just don’t forget about the rest of us.” He slung his arm over my shoulder, and I grinned.
“I won’t.”
CHAPTER 16
WREN
“Are we going the right way?”I hoisted the tote bag up higher onto my shoulder. The hot July sun beat down on us, and even standing in the shade didn’t help.
“Yeah, it’s a few more blocks this way.” Alex held his hand out to me, and I passed him the tote, trading for the towels. Jonathan had invited us to his house. We rode the bus as close as we could, but now we were on foot.
