“Not happening.” I roll my eyes, shoving past him. Lo is sitting at the small table, sorting through a stack of papers.
“You okay?” I ask. I don’t want to pry, but I don’t want to be a jerk and not ask either.
She huffs out a laugh. “Just another day in the life.”
“What’s all that?” I ask, gesturing to her papers, grabbing my backpack off the hook.
“I had the crazy idea of going back to school. It’s not like I’m not busy enough as it is.”
“It’s not crazy at all. What do you want to go for?”
“I need
to get my GED, for starters. Then I was thinking about maybe getting a business degree.”
“Really? I’m taking some business courses at Kerrigan.”
“No shit?” she asks, surprised.
“Yeah, it’s more geared toward music management, though.”
“I’d expect nothing less,” she says knowingly. I tend to monopolize the music selection here. In my defense, no one else seems to care all that much.
“Well, don’t go finding some hotshot job anytime soon. I need you here.”
I scoff. I don’t think she’ll have to worry about that. This town isn’t exactly booming with job opportunities. Plus, I like Lo and I like working here, despite recent developments. “Deal.”
I leave Lo to it, making my way out to the dining area. Like magnets, my eyes are drawn to Jesse. He pushes a hand through his hair before digging his phone out of his pocket, scowling at the screen like it personally offended him. After overhearing the conversation between him and Lo, I’m even more confused than ever. Curious. And you know what they say about curiosity…
Jesse pockets his phone and lifts his eyes to catch me staring. I fight the urge to look away. My gaze bores into him, but he’s looking at me just as intently. My teeth clamp down on my lip, ignoring the stirrings of…something I feel in my stomach.
“Albert,” I hear Dylan say from my left, breaking the spell. I whip my head in his direction.
“I didn’t see you come in,” I say, standing to hug him.
“Can’t imagine why,” he deadpans, pulling me into his warmth. My eyebrows draw together in confusion as I pull back.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He sighs. “I just don’t like that fucker.” He flicks his chin.
“Who, Jesse? You don’t have to worry about that.”
“Good.”
“Is there something I should know?” I ask, legitimately confused.
“You’re like my little sister, Al.” I huff out a laugh and look away. Your little sister that you made out with, I want to say. “I just want to make sure you’re… I don’t know. Safe.”
“Are you hungry?” I ask, changing the subject. I get the feeling Dylan feels a sense of responsibility toward me. I don’t know if it’s because he knew my dad or what, but I don’t want to be a burden on him, and I don’t want what we have to change. Back home, I didn’t have any real friends. I don’t want to lose him. I want things to go back to the way they were. Before the funeral.
“Nah. I ate earlier.”
I nod, feeling uncomfortable with Dylan for the first time in our relationship. Needing to break the awkwardness, I reach for his hand on top of the table. His dark eyes lift to mine through thick lashes.
“Are we okay?” My voice sounds small even to my own ears, and I mentally kick myself for sounding like such a girl.
Dylan frowns. “What kind of question is that?”