“What’s going on?” Uncle Sal whispers behind me. “He looks like a nice enough guy.”
Banks says, “That’s the ex-boyfriend.”
“Oh,” Uncle Sal responds, drawing out the sound.
I look at Aunt Maggie Mae, who’s smiling. “Sophie, Griffin reached out to me and practically begged me to pick him.”
Nonna comes up behind me and puts an arm around my waist. “You don’t have to go, sweetie.”
Griffin’s eyes are pleading with me. “Talk to me for just a few minutes before you decide. Please.”
I nod, only because I need to get out of this room. But I turn back just before I leave.
“I’m using the card,” I say, then shut the front door behind me.
We walk out to the front porch for some privacy. When he comes to a stop, I turn to face him, keeping several feet of distance between us. “Your aunt is right,” he says. “I called Mary Jo to ask who was picking your dates for the rest of the week, and she gave me her mom’s number.”
Oh, I’ll bet she did. Out of all my cousins he could have reached out to, that’s the one he picks?
“I can’t go on a date with you tonight,” I say. I see his mouth open—probably to argue with me—and I cut him off before he can start. “This has nothing to do with you. I’m actually canceling the rest of my dates and heading down to the hospital. My sister and niece aren’t doing well, and I need to be with them.”
“Then I’ll drive you,” he says.
“You don’t need to do that,” I say as I walk down the front steps toward my car.
He catches up with me. “You’re upset. It would be safer for me to drive you down. Then you can ride back with your parents.”
I stop in the middle of the front walk and look at him. “You’ll drive me. Just like that, you’ll drive me three hours to see my sister? Then what?”
His head tilts to the side. “Whatever it takes. If I need to wait there with you, I will. Or if you want me to leave, I’ll drive back.”
I stare at him a few seconds and then nod toward his truck. “Okay.”
We head toward the curb just as the front door opens. Charlie and Olivia step outside.
“Let me grab my bag,” I say to Griffin.
I head toward my car, and Charlie and Olivia meet me there.
“Are you going out with him?” Olivia asks.
Charlie’s head swivels back and forth between Griffin and me.
“Not going on a date,” I say. “Griffin is driving me down to the hospital.”
Olivia flinches. I know we’re both remembering her offer to go with me not ten minutes ago.
I pull my bag out of the backseat. “Look, I know you offered to take me, but I’m sure you’ve got other things—”
“Just when I think we’re good again, you shut me out,” she says. “Just like before.”
I whip around. “Excuse me?Ishutyouout? Are you kidding me?”
Charlie steps in between us. “Hold on, hold on,” he says, his hands extended. “Let’s not say anything we’re going to regret.”
“Maybe we should have said something two years ago when she ran away from her family,” Olivia says to Charlie. “Maybe she wouldn’t have totally disappeared if we had this out with her back then.”
“Oh my God, are you kidding me?” I want to scream.
