“You’re hot. Raven’s dumb for not wanting to be your girlfriend.”
I ruffle her hair. “Are you feeling better?”
She groans, fixing her hair. “A little. Yeah.”
“Ready to return to your parents and Raven?”
“Okay.”
We stand.
“Hey,” I say. When she looks at me, I hold out my fist for her to bump it.
Giggling, she does.
“Remember,” I tell her. “Let people get to know the real you and everything else will fall into place.”
She wraps her arms around my waist. “Thanks for everything. You’re so cool.”
“No problem.”
We return to the dining hall and Robin dashes to her parents, hugging them and Raven as well. She apologizes for worrying them and promises she won’t do it again.
When Raven asks her if everything is okay, Robin turns to me with a smile. “Yeah. I’m okay.”
Raven has no idea what I did to help her sister, but as she hugs her, she mouths, “Thank you.”
I dip my head.
As I turn around to return to my table, I hear Robin demanding, “Why isn’t he your boyfriend? He’s so hot! If I were older, I’d totally date him.”
I can’t hear Raven’s response, because her voice is low. I’d turn around, but I don’t want Raven to think I’m eavesdropping on their conversation.
“There you are,” Grandma says once I sit down at my table. “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, Raven’s sister was missing, but I found her and everything is okay. The kid just needed some space.”
I twist around in my seat to face them and find Raven’s family seated at their table, enjoying their meal again. Raven plays with Robin’s hair as she talks to her. Robin nods.
As if she feels me watching her, Raven’s eyes lift and meet mine. She smiles. I smile back.
Grandpa bends close and whispers, “I approve.”
I blink at him. “What?”
He winks. “And so does your grandma. Not that you need our approval, we just want you to know.”
He doesn’t let me respond or ask questions or let me try to convince him that Raven and I are happy where we’re holding. He just adds to the conversation with Leo’s dad about football.
I rub my forehead, then let my eyes wander back to her table. I smile when she laughs with her family. Watching her eyes light up will never get old.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Kylen
“Big day today, huh?” Raven says as we walk toward the music room.
“Yeah, I’m really excited.”
