Page 236 of Vexatious Queen

Myles was telling me a story, his voice animated. It had something to do with one of the guys on his team. Something about a text sent to a girl named Vanessa, and what sounded like a spectacular misunderstanding with the girl he was actually trying to ask out.

I listened. Sort of. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, but my mind drifted anyway.

Myles’s voice faded into the background, his words blurring together as my thoughts spiraled. Not painfully. Just…inward, like I was reorganizing myself a tiny bit at a time. The only way I’d been able to describe it was an almost complete puzzle being pushed on the floor, and all the pieces scattering.

We reached the doors of the cafeteria, where the afternoon rush was well underway, and the noise spilled out.

“Ren, did you hear what I asked?”

I stopped short, blinking like I was surfacing from being underwater.

“I’m sorry.” I shook my head. “I wasn’t listening. Can you say that again?”

His mouth curved into a smile that held no judgment at all. Just understanding. He leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek. It was so Myles to be affectionate even when I was the one being rude.

“I said,” he repeated gently, “do ya want to come with me to see Lip?”

Something in my chest loosened. I smiled back at him, a genuine smile that filled me with warmth.

“I’d love that.”

“Aright let’s go get changed. I’ll let him know we’re coming and bringin’ grub.”

As we turned toward the elevator instead, I realized something simple and profound.

Healing didn’t always announce itself.

Sometimes it just walked beside you, talking about nothing important at all, while you learned how to breathe again.

4:46 PM

Myles

Golden Oak always smelled like pencil shavings and floor cleaner. The linoleum shone, a little too-brightly, and posters about kindness were taped to the walls like commandments.

Ren was beside me, clutching the bags of burgers and fries. My eyes drifted as kids rushed past us toward the gym, where they ran after-class games. She smiled when one of them nearly bowled into my leg and shouted an apology that was far too loud for the hallway.

The school had a strict rule against visiting in the student dorms, so we were meeting Lip in one of the private lounges. I found him before he noticed we were there, hunched over a worksheet, tongue poking out in concentration. Too serious for eight.

His whole face changed when he looked up and saw us.

“Myles! Ren!”

Lip’s chair scraped back as he launched himself out of it. Ren barely had time to brace before he barreled into her, arms wrapping around her middle like he’d been holding that hug in all day.

“You came,” he said, muffled against her jacket.

“Of course we did,” Ren said, squeezing him as best she could with the food still in her hands. “And…Myles got you a chocolate, banana milkshake for dessert. I talked him into that.”

“That’s my favorite,” he exclaimed.

Ren winked. “I know. I’m like you, I remember everything.”

His smile brightened a little more, like he was relieved someone finally understood him.

“Come on, let me show you the essay I’m writing, you’re going to love it,” Lip said, practically dragging Ren to the table by her elbow, the excitement oozing out of him.

It was like Saturday had never happened, at least for now. We would see if it came up in his next session with the child psychologist.