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I didn’t hate the idea as much as I thought I would. I pulled my legs up onto my seat and turned toward him. “My dad is pretty much the opposite of Uncle James, even though they’re brothers. He’s always smiling and laughing.” Except for when I was worrying him sick. “He’s like a grown up version of RJ. They look so similar.” Which Adonis also already knew. My parents came to some of the games. My dad more. Adonis must have seen them in the crowd.

“So he’s like the opposite of you?”

“What?” I frowned.

“You said he’s always smiling and laughing.” His eyes fell to my cheeks where my tears had dried.

I thought I was a lot like my dad. At least...I used to be.

It looked like Adonis wanted to reach out and touch my cheek, but he kept his hands in his lap as he stared at me.

I cleared my throat. “Yeah, I guess I’m the opposite of my dad.”

“So are you like your mom? What’s she like?”

The first thing people usually said about my mom was that she was a picky eater. But that wasn’t the first thing I thought of. “She always knows how I’m feeling, even if I don’t. It’s like her secret power. And she always knows exactly what I need.” I pressed my lips together. Except for now. Because no one seemed to be able to help me out of this mess I was in. “She’s the most caring person I know.”

“She sounds great.”

“She’s the best.” I stared at him. I wanted to ask him about his family. I wanted to know everything about him. But what did it matter if I knew? It wouldn’t change anything. I was still...stuck.

“And you and RJ seem to get along well.”

“He’s also the best.” I smiled. If I’d cared to elaborate, I could tell him just how amazing my little brother was. About how he’d held me while I cried too many times to count. How even when he was pushing my buttons it was usually to help me. Everyone always said he was a spitting image of my dad. But he was a bit of my mom too. Because he always knew when I needed him.

Adonis’ eyes searched mine. “I’m trying to figure you out.”

“In what way?”

“You didn’t say either of your parents were...um...how do I put this nicely?”

I raised my eyebrow. “Spit it out.”

“That,” he said with a laugh. “You’re fiery.”

I laughed.

He smiled. “I like it.”

I just stared at him.

“So what do they all think about your teacher situation?”

I felt my cheeks turn red. “They don’t know. Well, RJ does. But not my parents.”

“I thought you guys were close.”

I blew out a frustrated breath. “They know about it. Kind of. They just don’t know it was my teacher.”

“Do they know about me?” He gave me that cocky smile.

“And why would I have told them about you?”

“Because I’m a big part of your life.”

I laughed. “Are you now?”

“Yes. You deleted the app.”