“Can you behave tonight? Or should I not invite Kate?”
“Her sister? I doubt she’d want her near me,” he said tightly, but I waved him off and opened my car door, leaning in to start the car.
“Trust me. If you show that you’re happy to spend time with her sister too, she’d like you more. Kate means everything to her, and family is important to both of them. If I invite her and say Kate’s welcome to come along, I can pick Kate up from my place on the way and meet you all at Harley’s Bar,” I suggested. I had no idea why I was making such an effort to make him feel better. If he didn’t have any friends, that was his own fault.
He studied me for a second before nodding. “Fine. I have something to do, but I can be there in an hour.”
“I’ll text you,” I replied, climbing behind the wheel and driving towards home, calling Blake and Luna to see if they wanted to go. Blake took some convincing, but she finally agreed, and I was relieved when Luna instantly said yes. I was such a sucker for her.
I’d never been the needy type, but if I could spend all my time with her, I would.
I found Mom the moment I got home, pulling her aside to talk in private. She wouldn’t like my plan, so I knew I’d have to convince her.
“Can I take Kate out for dinner?”
She frowned, suspicion on her face. “Where to, why, and with who? You hardly know her.”
I cringed. “I’m meeting Luna, Blake, and Ander for dinner. I told Blake I’d bring Kate.”
“Riley, that’s not your call to make,” she said with a sigh. “And I don’t want Kate near Ander.”
“I’m trying to show him he can have friends and family. He’s lonely, Mom. He’s a really nice guy,” I huffed, her gaze softening.
“Baby, it’s not your job to fix people.”
“I know,” I said with annoyance. “But he’s my friend. How can people like him find a way out of the lives they’re burdened with if they don’t know the way? You don’t like what he does, but this is why he won't change. He’s had no reason to until now.”
She crossed her arms, tapping her finger on her bicep for a moment before nodding. “Fine, but Kate is your responsibility. She doesn’t get in anyone else’s car and she doesn’t leave your sight. Understood?”
“Understood. I’ll make sure we check in with you too,” I promised. “And maybe another time, Ander…”
“Don’t push it,” she said firmly, kissing the top of my head. “Kate’s in her room. See if she wants to go and make sure she’s ready. Just dinner, right? Don’t take her anywhere else.”
“I’ll bring her home first if I end up with other plans later,” I agreed, heading towards the hallway.
I walked upstairs, poking my head into Kate’s room to find her lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She didn’t seem to want to play like most nine-year-old kids, but she’d been raised on the rough side of town where most kids had to grow up too fast.
“Hey. Do you want to come have dinner with me? Blake, Luna, and our friend, Ander, will be there,” I offered, her eyes darting over to me as her face lit up.
“Blake’s going?”
“Yeah. I told her I’d bring you along so you guys could hang out. So, you want to go?”
“Yes!” she squealed, leaping off the bed and grabbing her jacket. “Can we get ice cream too?”
I chuckled, tilting my head to watch her yank her arms through the sleeves and shove her feet into her shoes. “Possibly. C’mon, we’ll go see what the others want to do.”
Kate ran ahead of me, but I paused outside Marla’s room, giving the door a light knock before entering.
Marla was at her desk like always, her head buried in a book from school. As much as we weren’t that close, she was still my sister and I’d miss her when she left for college.
“Hey,” I murmured, her eyes flicking over to me silently. “Did you want to come to Harley’s for dinner? Me and some friends are going there and I’m taking Kate too.”
“No, thank you.” She motioned to the books in front of her, fatigue written all over her face. “I have an exam in the morning and I really need to study.”
“Do you want me to bring you back some pie if Harley has any?”
“Cherry?” she asked hopefully.