I was the only kid in Reject’s Corner who never had a run-in with the cops. But that’s because I was so obsessed with making it out of this town that I would never do anything to jeopardize that.
My dad rolls his eyes. “It all started with him, Klara. You know that. Police here all the time, people thinking that this neighborhood was plagued with criminals and making it a place that no one wanted to live. It’s his fault.”
Rey comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. I know it’s so that I can feel his support, but it’s also a silent declaration to my parents that they should be careful what they say about him to me. And they should. Because I’m about this close to saying some things that might not be advisable.
Both my parents are staring at Rey’s hand around my waist, and I put my hand over his.
Mom looks at me. “Well, that’s new.”
I close my eyes and ignore the comment. My parents are good people. I love them. And obviously I would do anything for them like this impossible project. But there’s a reason I left town as quickly as possible. I can’t remember a time when my parents and I didn’t butt heads over something.
“I’m happy you guys are here,” I say. “And of course, you’re welcome to keep coming to check on the progress in the next ten days. But Rey is the only reason that this project has a snowball’s chance in hell of getting done on time. So, while you’re here, I don’t want to hear anything about your issues with Rey. We’re adults, and what you’re thinking about happened a long time ago and was not the source of this neighborhood going to shit.”
Mom tilts her head. “And you not wanting to hear what we have to say has nothing to do with that?” She nods her hands at our entwined hands.
“No,” I say. “It doesn’t. Because this isn’t who you are. You’re literally insulting someone to their face while knowing nothing about their current life or what they’ve done. Which, I have to say, is pretty shitty.”
“Klara—” My father takes a step forward. “You’re really going to speak to your mother and me that way?”
Rey pulls me back against him—a move that they won’t be able to see but gives me a little comfort. I clear my throat. “You’ve asked me to do this job, and I’m doing it. I would appreciate it if you didn’t disrespect the people trying to make it happen. Now if you don’t mind, I have a lot of paint in my car and I need to get it out of there before the cans explode from the heat. I’ll keep you posted with updates, if you want to check in tomorrow in person, feel free.”
I grip Rey’s hand and pull him with me out the front door. It’s super unlikely that the paint cans are going to explode, but I needed a way to exit the situation. I didn’t even have a chance to ask them how they were feeling, or if there was good news about Mom’s last treatment. But I honestly didn’t expect them to come out swinging like that.
“Are you okay?” Rey asks.
“Me?” I turn and lean against the door of my car. “I should be the one asking that. They were coming after you.”
Rey’s face is clouded with shadows, but he shrugs. “I can’t do anything to change their minds if that’s what they think. Hopefully they’ll see what I do here and their opinion will improve. But it’s not like I can deny that I wasn’t a model child.”
“Rey, no one in this neighborhood was a model child. And none of us were responsible for the neighborhood ending up like this.”
“You were the model kid, from what I remember.” I give him a look, and he chuckles. “I know that I’m not responsible for it. But maybe they’re right, and I was part of it.”
I open my mouth to protest, and he shakes his head.
“I’m not bothered by it. I know who I am now, and I’m not the same. It doesn’t change anything about helping you with this project or,” he pauses. “How I’m feeling about you.”
Rey leans down to kiss me, gently pressing my body into the car behind me. He tilts my face up to his, and I relax into the kiss. It’s amazing how quickly my anxiety and anger melt away under his touch. All I’m thinking about is him.
Until a gasp comes from my right.
I break away to see my parents walking to their car. My mother’s mouth is open as she stares at me, a look of horror on her face. I blush even though I don’t want to, and look away. But Rey doesn’t falter. He moves closer, subtly shifting so that I’m mostly blocked from their view.