Beckett:Should’ve told you what?
Lance:When it started. When you decided you wanted to get involved with her. Anything at all. The fact that my mother blindsided me with this is such a dick move.
Beckett:But I didn’t decide to get involved with her. I didn’t want that to happen. I worked my ass off at avoiding it.
Lance:Apparently not enough of your ass.
Beckett:What is your endgame here? You want me to drop your sister so you, all the way out in California doing whatever the fuck you do, can keep things tidy in your head? Does Sunny have any say in this? Do I?
Lance:I’ll deal with Sunny on my own.
Beckett:The fuck you will.
Lance:You want to try that again?
Beckett:Under no circumstance will you bother her with this bullshit. She doesn’t need any stress right now. The only thing you’re going to do is tell her that you love and support her, and you are only concerned with her happiness. If you so much as imply anything to the contrary, you and I will have some real problems.
Lance:Wait, so you care about her?
Beckett:What the actual fuck do you think I’ve been saying to you?
Lance:How the fuck should I know? No one tells me anything!
Beckett:You moved in with Chantal and didn’t tell anyone about that.
Lance:Chantal isn’t your sister.
Beckett:Look. I’m sorry you heard about this the way you did. I’d like to say I had something better planned but I’m juggling a lot of balls right now and I thought I had a little more time before breaking this to you. But you not liking that I’m with Sunny isn’t going to change that fact. It will make her sad which will piss me off, and that’s on top of the shock of realizing my oldest friend is willing to blow up our friendship.
Lance:I’m not blowing anything up.
Beckett:Are you sure about that?
Lance:Yes. I just need some time. Okay?
Beckett:Okay, but don’t you dare bother Sunny.
Lance:Can you calm down for a fucking second? My god.
Beckett:If it’s all the same to you, I’m going to be annoyed as hell until you pull your head out of your ass.
Lance:You’re not the one allowed to be annoyed here.
Beckett:I am allowed to wonder what the hell is wrong with you.
Lance:Are we good?
Beckett:Based on this conversation? No fucking clue.
Lance:I’ll call you when I’m a little less traumatized.
* * *
I wishI was exaggerating when I said the entire town of Friendship was concerned about Sunny but it was the truth. There was a nonstop stream of visitors at her door. Everyone wanted to check on her or offer to help with anything she needed.
With that came an outpouring of flowers and gifts. I’d called Parker to come over here with some of his friends and make a dent in the food that people kept dropping off for Sunny. If there was anyone who knew how to make casseroles disappear, it was seventeen-year-old boys.
I woke up a few days ago to find someone’s grampa in Sunny’s front yard on a riding mower, cutting her grass. He bagged it up and took it with him too. Just waved when I stepped outside, and asked me to send his best to Sunny.
