Two days after they released Walker from the hospital, the doorbell at our temporary house rang. An Asian couple stood outside with shopping bags full of food—Walker’s parents.
He pretended it meant nothing, but they fussed over him, making us all an epic dinner and insisting we keep the leftovers. And when a loopy Walker announced I was his girlfriend, his parents shared a look, then asked if I was done with school as well. When I said I was, they immediately started interrogating me about what career I planned on having, and inexplicably, I told them I was thinking about law school.
Trips’ eyebrows had raised, and after they left, he slumped onto the couch next to me. “Law school?”
“I have a feeling we’re going to need a good lawyer someday.”
“You would be good at that,” Walker said, eyes half shut beside me.
Jansen sprawled on the ground in front of us, a drugged-up Fluffington in a fabric box on his chest, Emma trying to change his dressings as he yowled in protest at her help. Jansen stretched, the box bobbled, Emma cursed, and Fluffington hissed, before Jansen laughed at the whole thing. “But that’s a lot of work.”
“So’s being a thief,” I responded.
RJ laughed, my bones melted, and I’d leaned against Trips’ shoulder, holding Walker’s hand, his leg propped on a bench that had suddenly appeared the day before.
It was obviously stolen.
We were all okay with that.
Emma eventually stripped the brown dye from her hair, getting it back to her vibrant pink. In celebration, she insisted we go out, somewhere, anywhere.
For some reason, I suggested the Prancing Goat Cafe, and once we stepped out of the snow and into the steamy coffee shop, I felt it—I didn’t fit anymore. And instead of being sad or uncomfortable with that fact, I embraced it. I’ve grown so much from the timid girl who used to work here, plastering a smile on my face no matter what I was feeling, keeping myself small while wishing for a future that was larger than life. Carrie fawned over me, comping my drink and asking about my study abroad, mentioning that Walker had told her I was fine. It was nice catching up, but I already knew I wasn’t going to be coming back.
While Emma and I drank our drinks and shared a brownie, tossing ridiculous cat-based lyrics for a hypothetical bluegrass song back and forth until I was snorting with laughter, someone pulled a chair out beside us. Immediately on edge, I relaxed as Jonah plopped onto it, a paper cup in his hand. “Hey spy girl. Where’s your security?”
I laughed. “I’m all done with that. Thank God.”
“Good. I like excitement as much as the next guy, but that was pretty intense. I’m assuming I won’t have any courier duties next semester?”
“Nope. I’m all graduated and back home.”
He lifted a brow. “Your house is ash.”
“Collateral damage.”
Emma laughed, and I joined her, while Jonah looked perplexed at why a house fire would be a laughing matter.He shook his head. “I’m starting to think Callie was onto something about helping you being too dangerous.”
“How is Callie?” I asked, wanting to be a good friend to the person who allowed me and the guys to have an open line of communication.
“We broke up. Apparently we have different tolerances for excitement. I like to go to concerts every weekend and carry out secret missions for acquaintances and she…doesn’t.”
My smile fell. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugged, then slid his eyes over to Emma. “I’m Jonah,” he said, holding his hand out to my best friend.
Emma tucked her short pink hair behind an ear. “Emma. There’s nothing wrong with weekly concerts in my book. But break-ups suck. I’m sorry.”
“I take it you’re fresh out of one as well?” he asked, digging.
“Yup.”
He stretched an arm out, casually resting it on the back of her chair. “Maybe we could get coffee sometime, commiserate or something?”
I’d taken that as my cue to find something to do at the drink station.
Emma peppered me with questions the whole way home, but I ended up siccing her on Trips for more information. I’m excited to see where it goes for them. Emma deserves someone just as brave as she is, and while I don’t know if Jonah’s that person for her, I think we’re both curious to see if he might be.
I’m pulled from my reflections when the SUV stops in front of yet another property for us to tour.
