"What'swrong?"
I laughed. "Nothing's wrong. I just miss you guys. And Knix said you went and saw mymom?"
"She's doing fine," Bellamy said. I could tell he was smiling too, and it only made mine grow. I felt so silly and foolish, grinning and smiling while talking to boys. Like I was back at the start of high school again. When all the other girls had gone boy crazy, I had gone job hunting. This was a strangefeeling.
"Did her doctors say anything about her medication?" I asked. “How did she act?" The last time I had been there and talked to the doctors, just before we left for Alex's, they had told me that her mood swings might increase with the new medication they were giving her. I hadn't noticed anything, but from a lifetime of living with her, I knew changes in medications sometimes took weeks and months to get usedto.
"She was a little tired during my visit, but all in all, she was good," Bellamy promised. "I didn't get a chance to talk to the doctors, though. I'll see if I can the next time I go. She asked how you were; I told her you were checking out colleges. She seemed pretty excited aboutthat."
"Thank you." Bellamy’s breath puffed through the phone, but I stopped him from whatever he was going to say. “…and before you tell me that a thank you isn’t necessary—like Knix—I’m going to tell you, too bad. I’m thankful and you’re gonna knowit.”
Bellamy laughed, and it sounded like coming home. My own breath caught, and Marv’s words slid back through my mind.If you choose him, I’m sure you’ll be justfine.
Our conversation turned to Cleo—Clarissa was really enjoying her, apparently. Knix and Bellamy were too busy to take care of her still. I wondered if I’d have a cat to come home to. When I finally hung up the phone I decided that Marv and I needed to talk. I found him in the kitchen, where he said he would be, but when I arrived, I wasn’t quite sure what I was seeing. At first, I thought I had accidentally walked in on something embarrassing, then I realizedwhat I was actually seeing. Marv's firm backside faced outward as he bent over and rummaged through thepantry.
“What are you doing?” Iasked.
Marv straightened and looked over his shoulder. “We don't have anything to make for dinner tonight,” he said. “I thought I might find something to set out, but no such luck. How was your talk withKnix?”
“It was fine,” I said absently, peeking over his shoulder. Wow, he was right. Their pantry was even more barren than the duplex. “Do you need to go to the grocerystore?”
He grimaced but nodded. “Yeah, I think so. I’m certainly not planning to eat at that cafeteria for every meal.” The pasta had been good, but I could understand not wanting to walk across campus every time I gothungry.
“Okay, then let’s go.” I spotted his keys on the counter and swiped them before he could. “I’mdriving.”
“Oh no,” he said, “you don’t even have your license yet!” Marv rushed out after me as I hightailed it to the frontdoor.
“I have my permit and you’re 21, so it’ll be fine.” I opened the door and skipped out, pausing when I realized the BMW was nowhere insight.
Marv closed the front door and smirked. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “I thought you said you weredriving?”
“Very funny.” I looked down the street—nothing. “Where’s thecar?”
“It’s right there.” Marv moved closer, so close I could feel his breath on the back of my neck as he reached around me and pointed to the nondescript, dark green sedan sitting in the driveway. Blinking away the haze of confusing attraction that Marv had unwittingly brought about, I stared at the car as he slid around me and descended the front steps. One second we were joking and the next, I couldn’t breathe for fear my heart would leap out of my chest over how close he was, how his body just barely brushed against mine. “Knix didn’t want us to standout.”
He walked to the driver’s side door and popped it open. “Hope you can drive a stick.” My eyes rounded, and I shook my head. “Oh, no?” His smirk grew into a full-fledged grin. “Guess you’re not driving,then.”
I narrowed my gaze on him and when I passed to head around to the passenger side door, I smacked him in the chest with his keys. Marv’s laughter followed me as I got into thecar.
“Awww, don’t pout, Sunshine,” Marv cajoled as he clipped his seatbelt on and started the car. There was a short bulbous looking stick shift in the console and he adjusted it as he pulled out of the driveway and headed for the end of thestreet.
“I’m not pouting,” I said, “justdrive.”
He laughed again, pulling out into light traffic. “As youwish.”
The car in front of us slowed to a near stop as it turned and so did we, unintentionally following. "So..." I began, leaning back in the passenger seat, eyeing the precarious license plate. Before I could continue though, a cell phone buzzed, drawing my attention away from both the license plate and what I was about to say. Since mine was in my bag and my bag was by my feet and I certainly didn't feel the vibrations against my ankle, I knew it wasn't mine. Marv shifted to the side, pulling his out of the back pocket of his white-washed jeans. He hadn’t even glanced at the screen before he noted me staring at him. He handed the phone over withoutcommentary.
“Thanks,” Marv mumbled as I flicked the screen to unlockit.
Texas:Got G, headingout.
I relayed the message to Marv. "What do you want me tosay?"
"Tell him okay and let me know when he getsthere."
Marv:Okay. Let me know when you getthere.
I pressed the side button to turn the screen off and set it in the console between us. "How is it?" I finally asked, turning sideways in the seat to face him. The seatbelt cut across my chest and over my shoulder, pulling tighter until it slipped over myarm.