AllFreeNovel
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“I don’t know.” His tone is thoughtful, and my lips part in surprise. “Miss Gina’s old. She’s blind. She has a lot of money,and she lives in this big old house all by herself. I think it’s nice her family checks on her. I was starting to think she was all alone in the world.”
“She’ll never be all alone in Newhope. Everyone loves her here.”
“It’s true, but her family doesn’t know that.” We walk up to where our vehicles are parked. “Logan let you drive his rig?”
“Jack needed his truck. I wasn’t there when he left, so I don’t know how much Dylan had to do with it.”
He chuckles softly, and my cheeks heat. I’m starting to feel like Dylan had everything to do with me being here in Logan’s very expensive vehicle.
“You’ll ride with me from now on, like before.” He says it like there’s no room for debate.
“Yes, sir.” I tease, and his eyes darken.
Opening his door, he puts his tools in the back seat before taking my arm and escorting me to the Rover. He waits as I fumble to unlock it and stow my things on the passenger’s side. When I finally get it started, he steps back and closes the door.
I immediately roll down the window, but he only pats the top of the door. “See you back at the house.”
Gazing into the side mirror, I watch his attractive form saunter to his vehicle and climb inside. It’s not until I see the engine start that I put it in drive and head out to the street.
Eddie has never been muchfor sharing his feelings, but I can tell by the light on his face being with Allie today boosted his confidence.
“I’ve pretty much mastered the Dewey Decimal System.” He notes as we brush our teeth before bed. “Apparently a monkey learned it in a matter of hours.”
“Is that true?” I squint at him, leaning forward to spit.
When I straighten, he does the same. “It’s the most useful method for organizing small collections. Large, academic institutions are more likely to use the Library of Congress system.”
“Interesting.” I got nothing. “Did you meet any kids today?”
He shakes his head, walking across the hall to his bedroom. “I saw Austin, and Miss Dylan stopped by to say hi. She was dressed in ballet clothes.”
“She teaches dance as a PE option.” He doesn’t respond, and my chest is tight. “Did you like being at school?”
“It was okay.” He walks over to his bed and picks up the dog-eared copy ofThe Outsiders, his favorite book.
I chew my bottom lip, because it’s his go-to when he’s feeling stressed, kind of like my drag queen music. “You’re readingThe Outsiders?”
He turns the book and looks at the cover. “I was thinking about bleaching my hair.”
Pressing my lips together, I nod slowly. “In that case, we might get some new shirts… if we’re changing things up, I mean?”
“Maybe.”
Inhaling slowly, I don’t know if this is progress or not. Itfeelslike progress, but I’ve learned to be cautious with my excitement where my brother is concerned. Three steps forward, two steps back.
“Well, don’t stay up too late reading, okay?” He nods, and I lean down to touch my lips to his forehead. “Stay gold, Ponyboy.”
He exhales a noise like a laugh, and I return to the hall, pulling his door shut. I think I’m making the right decisions for him now. He’s an almost-teenage boy, and I have no fucking clue what can of worms puberty will open for us.
But I think I’m doing alright. I press my hand to my chest and swallow the air in my throat. We had a bump in the road, but we managed it. Now we’re here in this place of community, and it feels so good. Hope is such a seductive emotion, and it expands so big in my chest, my ribs ache.
It’s been a while since I needed a mantra, but the one on my mind at this moment goes,Have gratitude now, while boldly waiting for what’s to come.
I wrap my arms around my waist and hug myself like I used to do in those days when I had no one else to give me a hug.Gratitude.
My eyes blink open, and I see the light under Zane’s door. Tiptoeing over, I knock softly. His low voice calls for me to come in, and I open it, stepping inside and quickly shutting it behind me.
He’s sitting on the bed in joggers and a tank, and I press my lips together at the sight. Damn those muscles, that sleeve of tattoos. Damn those broad shoulders and that light dusting of dark hair on his chest.
