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“More than good,” answered Rory, shining a bright smile in Penelope’s direction. “I’m actually not going, so I can get them done earlier.”
Penelope inhaled sharply. “Not…going?”
“Oh, thank god, I don’t want to go either,” Vanessa said, her shoulders relaxing as she admitted her truth. She stood up and linked her arm with Rory’s. “I’ll come hang at your place. Maybe I’ll even get my mamá to make us empanadas for dinner.”
Rory’s heart warmed as she smiled at her friend, relief flooding every crevice of her being. “That sounds perfect. And tell your mother I want her to adopt me.”
“Alright, enough of this, we’re getting sidetracked,” Penelope said, looking like she was ready to pull her hair out. “If we don’t finish approving these spreads in the next hour, I’m going to lose my mind.”
“Wait, you haven’t already?” Rory teased.
They all laughed, including Penelope, who then gave Rory the finger.
Before turning her attention back to the screen, she felt her phone buzz in her pocket.
We need to sit down and talk
Crap, Rory thought as she read the text from Gabi. She’d snuck into the school after the last period, heading straight for the computer lab, trying to lie low so no one would see her. The school had probably reached out to Gabi about her absence. Or worse…her father reached out.
Before she could respond, Gabi already sent her another message.
I’m off Sunday night from the pub
Rory exhaled. It wasn’t going to be tonight. Gabi was giving her a few days to think. She typed back quickly.
Sunday is Mel’s birthday. After?
Fine, after
Rory sent back a thumbs-up emoji before shoving her phone in her pocket.
Vanessa leaned toward her. “Everything good?” she whispered.
She smiled. “Seriously, does your mom want to adopt me?”
* * *
Rory opened the back door at Scoops the next evening and froze. Tyler was in his uniform, signing in, twirling his Scoops hat with his other hand before fitting it on his head.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
Tyler frowned. “Someone looks disappointed.”
“Well…yes,” she said, her chest tightening. She wasn’t sure if disappointed was the word she would go for to describe this moment. Caught off guard was more like it. Maybe even winded…especially with the way his turquoise Scoops shirt fitted tightly to his shoulders. “I was…I was supposed to be working with Mel,” she stuttered.
“Calvin called me in, said Mel needed the day,” he replied, his expression blank.
She twisted her hands, knowing what that meant. Tomorrow was Melanie’s birthday, her first one she would celebrate without her twin brother. Her friend probably wasn’t doing well.
She didn’t realize Tyler had walked up to her, his massive frame hovering over her like a shield. “She’ll be okay, Ry.”
Rory nodded, not really believing it. But she didn’t say anything as she shuffled around him and got ready for her shift, not daring to return his gaze.
It was just one shift. They’d had dozens together before, so it really wouldn’t be a big deal. She would let herself get lost in scooping flavors, blending up milkshakes, and decorating sundaes. If they stayed busy, her mind would be distracted. And before she knew it, her shift would be over.
She stepped out of the bathroom as thunder boomed outside. The sky had gone from dusty blue to charcoal gray, the skies ominous as lightning cracked through the clouds and rain started pounding on the windows.
“Looks like we’re not getting good tips today,” Tyler grumbled. He glanced over at her, his dark chocolate eyes roaming her face like he was trying to get a read on what she was thinking.
