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Chapter One
The heady scent of flowers filled the roo Even after I washed my hands a dozen times, they still smelled as if I’d doused them in floral perfume
“That’s pretty”
I turned froe to it I glanced back at the flowers “I think I’ of it Finally”
“Whose it for?”
“It’s Hub’s For his wife Their fifteenth anniversary”
Claudia nodded “Heart of mush underneath that bear-like exterior, huh?”
I grinned Hub owned the local diner in uy with an even huger beard and gruff dehtly intiht Hub was all heart “He placed this order over a ets his anniversary”
My friend sestured behind her into the store front of ed the shoplike you asked”
Delia’s was the only florist in town, and although Lanton wasn’t huge, she kept fairly busy She’d had aon floral arrange money my parents really couldn’t afford to spend to fix it, Delia’s was up and running again
If only I could be one hundred percent positive that Delia,too
“Thanks If I don’t tell you enough, I really appreciate you being here” Once Claudia had finished at the University of Edinburgh, she’d rushed back to the States, suitcase in tow, and moved in withus out during one of the worst times of my family’s life
“You can stop saying that now I ht have to hurt you if you don’t”
I smirked “Fine”
Claudia frowned as she glanced around us “Uh… where is Delia Mom, anyway?”
Mo out for her I found ement as I murmured, “Where else?”
“Ah Okay” Claudia sighed “So, Lowe called ”
I didn’t answer
“He says he’s tried calling you”
Shrugging with more nonchalance than I felt, I said, “I know I just… I haven’t spoken to Jake, so I don’t think it’s right if I speak to Lowe”
“Lowe’s your friend”
“No, Lowe is Jake’s friend I’ve hurt Jake enough without confiding in his friend when I won’t confide in him”
I reached for e Claudia’s hand curled around ement is done”
Turning to her, I said, “I get the feeling you want to talk”
“Charley, school starts back up in a week Are you ready?”
“No But I’ to be”
“We’re going back to the old apartment, and it’s senior year so we’ll have tons on our plates to keep us busy You’ll get to see Alex again, too This will be good”
I looked aorrying my lip between my teeth After a moment of silence, I said softly, “Do you really think they’re okay for o? Mom still visits the cemetery every day and Dad… he’s still mad at me”
Claudia’s eyes were filled with sympathy but I could also see deter the ceood She’s much better, Charley She can cope on her own here now And Jim… he loves you He’ll come around when you come around”
“Don’t,” I warned, definitely not wanting to walk into that territory
She held her hands up in surrender “I won’t But are you ever planning on talking to Jake again?”
I glowered at her “What is this? Piss-Off-Charley Day?”
“No, this is ‘It’s ti up to the decisions you’ve arding a certain Jacob Caplin?”
A faive into it Instead I brushed past Claud to grab a broom and started on the back rooain It’s over We’re just going to leave it at that”
Claudia inhaled sharply “You’re just going to leave hi?” She sounded horrified Guilt crashed over me
I shoved it forcefully aside “We’ve hurt each other too much How can we possibly come back from that?”
“You could try”
“Like you’re trying with Beck?”
Her elegant brows drew together “That’s different”
“Claudia—”
“But I’ll drop it For now”
So i impression about me I don’t know if it was that ti vehicle, taking the iirl Or eneral cockiness
Whatever it is, I think people think I’ive a shit what other people think
I really couldn’t give a shit what other people think
But I care whatthem
So not fearless So not brave And I guess not nearly as independent as I used to think I was
When you’re a kid, your whole happiness is wrapped up in your parents A hug frohter, their kind words, their affection, their love… it took away a hurt knee, or a class as I knew my parents loved me, that I made theht
That feeling never really goes away, though It’s a how easy it is for a parent to ain
That’s how I’d been feeling aroundmy parents’ love and respect Lately, for the past fewbut disappointed in me Especially my dad