She studies me the way you study the weather, trying to decide if it’s safe to step outside. Her response is hesitant, but she smiles. “Good morning.”
I nod toward the bus. “You riding with us today?”
Her brows lift. “Us meaning… you?”
“Me, Mikey, Hayden.” I pause. “And you?”
She watches my face, looking for the trap. There isn’t one. “Okay.” She nods, like she’s choosing trust again. It lands in my chest harder than it should.
“Cool.” I take her bag without asking. “Come on.” She opens her mouth like she’s about to argue, then closes it and actually lets me carry it. That tiny surrender does something to me I’m not prepared for.
We climb onto the bus. Mikey is on the main couch, half-horizontal, eating cereal from the box like a gremlin. Hayden’s at the table with a laptop and headphones, already in his own world. The TV is on mute, some old action movie playing with subtitles.
Sadie steps in behind me. I’m painfully aware of her presence in my space now. Her scent, the soft weight of her footsteps, the way the air shifts when she’s close. She gives Mikey a polite wave. He grins at her like she’s his favorite person.
“Yo, camera girl,” he mocks with a chuckle, “you decide to come back to the dark side?”
Sadie smiles. “As long as you don’t make me watch motorcross videos again.”
“Rude.” He points his spoon at me. “You’re sassy today.”
Hayden lifts a hand in greeting without taking off his headphones.
Sadie perches on the bench seat by the table. I don’t like the distance. I sit across from her like it’s normal, like I didn’t spend the morning deciding I was done being a coward.
The bus rolls out, Orlando shrinking in the rearview. Mikey turns the TV volume up enough to be noise but not enough to interfere with a conversation. A professional skill he has somehow mastered.
Sadie unwraps a granola bar and glances at me like she’s about to say something, then thinks better of it.
“Just say it,” I drawl, giving her a lazy smile.
She blinks. “What?”
“Whatever it is you’re thinking.” I tap a finger against her head. “Because I know something is going on up there.”
Her mouth twitches. “Okay, mind reader. I was just wondering how you’re doing today.”
There’s no edge in it. No accusation. Just a check-in that doesn’t make me feel trapped. It’s different.
I hold her gaze. “Yeah. I’m good.” It’s true. Truer than it’s been in a while.
She nods, like she can tell. “Good.” She takes a bite. “Because I don’t want to do the whole, ‘Dean disappears into the void’ thing again today.”
A laugh erupts from me. Mikey jerks his head up like he found religion. “Oh, hell yes.”
Hayden pulls one headphone off. “What’d I miss?”
“Sadie just threatened Dean,” Mikey relays proudly. “I’m in love.”
“I didn’t threaten him,” she spouts in defense.
“You absolutely did,” I challenge, nodding over at her.
She lifts her chin. “Well, maybe you need it.”
“Maybe I do,” I admit, my voice low. The air shifts. Not tense. Warm. Like sunlight after a thunderstorm.
Hayden makes a satisfied sound and puts his headphone back on. Mikey resumes his cereal like a man watching tennis. Sadie turns toward the window, a smile lifting her mouth longer than she intends. Watching her be happy like that, casual and real, makes something loosen in me. And for once, I don’t let it scare me. I just let it be.
