Mom nodded, walking into the living room and ruffling Tommy’s hair from behind where it was still damp from the rain. “Yes, but we’re struggling to pick. Any suggestions?”
“We could rentAvataragain?” he suggested.
“You’ve seen it like five times,” I complained. “How are you not sick of it yet?”
“Because the editing is amazing,” Tommy said. “Obviously.”
“He likes it, Rosie. Leave him alone,” Mom said softly, wrapping her arms around Tommy. He leaned his head back against hers. “How many times have you made us rentNew Moonthis year?” She gave me a knowing smile, and I acquiesced.
“Fine. I get your point.”
“Come on,Avatar’s great,” Dad agreed.
“Avatar!” Hazel cried happily from the floor, trying to wrestle one of her stuffed animals out of the dog’s mouth. Davis quickly gave in, resigned. The beagle was getting too old to fight.
Just then, the front door opened, the rain creeping in. We were surprised when Will ducked inside. He shook his wet hair, letting the droplets spray the wood floors.
“Hey, stranger,” our mother said, turning to face him. “What are you doing here? I thought you and Alex were going out?”
Will dropped his umbrella in the iron basket by the door. “Line dancing isn’t really my thing. I told her to go without me. Her friend Casey is going too.”
I watched my parents exchange a curious look. Will rarely, if ever, bailed on Alex, and never in favor of family time.
“I think hell just froze over,” Tommy whispered to me.
“Alert the media,” I deadpanned.
“Did you two get into a fight?” My father asked. It seemed like the most logical explanation for Will’s sudden cancelation of plans.
Will shrugged. “Just a little thing. Nothing major. Alex’ll probably have more fun with Casey anyway.”
“Well, I’m certainly not complaining,” Mom said. “Keith, come in and help me make the popcorn. Kids, get the movie queued up.” She left the room, my father behind her.
“So, what did you guys fight about?” Tommy asked Will as he pointed the remote at the television.
Will shrugged. “She was completely in her phone tonight. Glued to it, like texting even when I was talking to her. It’s annoying. All her friends were already out so I don’t know who she was talking to.” I could still see traces of the annoyance in his face.
I don’t know who she was talking to. His words soured in my gut. I swallowed hard, my throat feeling dry as my thoughts raced. Could she be texting Nick, the boy from the mall? I had been desperately trying to forget about that since it happened, and I hated the idea that it could be true. I chewed on my nail.
My parents reemerged from the kitchen. “You really went for it on the butter, honey,” my mom muttered to my dad. “Your cardiologist will love that.” She shook her head as she bent down to pick up Hazel. Dad had two bowls of popcorn in hand.
“No one’s meant to live forever. I’m here for a good time.”
We headed for our usual spots on the sectional and sank into the movie. Hazel conked out three-quarters of the way through, and Dad got up to put her to bed. When it finished, our parents changed the channel to a late-night show, sending me, Will, and Tommy to hang out in the kitchen. We had just poured ourselves some sodas into plastic cups when we heard a light tap on the back door. I looked over and saw a mess of blonde hair. Will moved to answer the door.
“Hey, Alex,” I said as she darted inside, soaking wet.
“It’s freaking cold out there right now.” She gave herself a good shake, like a dog, and rubbed at her arms.
Will looked conflicted. There was a trace of worry on his features, but it kept twisting into something angrier. I wasn’t used to seeing him like this. The texting situation was clearly really getting to him. “How was line dancing?” he asked reluctantly.
She blinked. “Good. It was a little mind-numbing to listen to that much country. So I left early. I figured you might want to hang out and make up. You know,after …” Alex’s eyebrows waggled up and down to reference whatever had happened between them earlier.
Will’s expression twisted slightly. I watch his annoyance linger for a moment more and then disappear, replaced by his usual lighthearted smile, as if he had simply decided to get over whatever was bothering him. “Yeah, you’re right. I don’t like how we left it.” He grabbed her a cup and poured her a soda.
“I love that your mom has Solo cups in the house all the time. So chill of her,” Alex said, chugging her Sprite Zero. “My mom never lets us get them. She thinks they’re tacky.”
Tommy and I caught each other’s eye. Alex was the queen of backhanded compliments. Most of the time it went right under Will’s nose because she said it in her sweet, unassuming voice. I didn’t blame her either. It was the way her parents spoke, and she probably didn’t even realize.
