“Y’all sure?” Nate chuckled. “You two kind of look like Claire and I do after a fight. But you two don’t have anything to fight about, so… that doesn’t make sense.”
“It doesn’t make sense because that’s not what’s happening.” My tone was shorter than I would have liked.
“Well, now you’re getting an attitude, so this feels like something weird,” Nate decided.
“It’s not weird,” Leo swore with a shake of his head.
“What’s weird?” Fran appeared at my elbow with a bubbly smile.
“I don’t know. That’s what I’m trying to find out.” Nate gestured between Leo and I. “Is there something I should know?”
Fran’s eyes widened. She dipped out the conversation as quickly as she dipped in, turning on her heel to leave.
“Okay, lower your tone,” I told Nate. “We don’t want to be the first gossip piece for Emerson this year.”
“You’re worried about gossip?” Nate’s laugh was hesitant this time. “Are you two…?”
“No way.” Leo frowned. “I’m not into your sister like that.”
Double ouch. “Yeah, and I’m not into your asshole of a friend like that.”
I turned away before seeing either of their reactions. Nate called after me as I left them behind.
Fran had a big “yikes” expression on her face when I found her and Claire by the plastic kiddie pools.
“What was that?” Claire looked amused.
“Just Leo treating me like he usually does,” I explained and resisted the urge to glance over my shoulder at him.
Claire and Fran exchanged looks of dismay.
“What?” I asked.
Claire sighed and handed me her fresh slice of pie. “This is the last one. And I think you need the wish more than I do.”
“Really?” I took the plate, stomach growling at the sight of the desert.
“Really.” Fran nodded and rubbed my arm.
“Make it a good one, Kira. Because I’m giving up a lot,” she mockingly lamented and blew a kiss to the pie.
I laughed, glad the feeling of summer lightness was back. I shouldn’t let Leo bring me down. This summer, I was going to enjoy this. My street, my friends, and my life. Without him.
So, I made a wish, finished the pie, and prayed to God that Claire didn’t give it up for nothing.
I prayed my wish would come true.
