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"I just…need it," I say I sound like a teenager
"Relax," she says, pushingtheht be a little stressed
She reaches below the sink, e, plastic cooler It’s not a basket It’s not even close to a basket
"Is this all we’ve got?" I ask
"Honey, this is all we ever had," she laughs
"No…we had a basket I se did," I say, looking where she just looked There’s only cleaning supplies left
"You s seeer," she says, and I flash to that night with Beth, then look at the cooler It feels fa out the debris that’s collected in it
"Are we taking a trip?" she asks, sliding back on her stool It’s like her perch, where she can look down at , I swear
"No I’h the pantry, grabbing bread for sandwiches, looking for anything else I drop the bag of bread on the ground and two slices slide out Swearing under my breath, I pick them up and toss them in the trash The only pieces left are the heels--whoon the counter and look back to the pantry, for crackers or anything else Mythe peanut-butter jar, halting o put so to read her, wondering what her motive is, but she just pats ood piece of bread, cutting crust and blowing cru down at my shirt that…damn, does have a stain on it I run up the stairs and toss out whatever’s clean in ether a dark pair of jeans and the black sweater I wore the last ti looks new--like I just went out and bought it, like I’ at e’s door opens She pauses across froht still on behind her It’s the sa to her hair, orover her ar, she’s somehow more beautiful, yet exactly the same
"I like the sweater," she says, her lip tucked in her teeth
Good Settled Sweater and jeans it is
"You ready?" I ask, giving her uide her down, and just the sih to reer downstairs, just the packed cooler, a rolled up blanket, and an extra jacket--which catches Paige’s eye
"Did your otten a little…help," I say Paige ss, and her face flushes for some reason
"I didn’t think your mom really cared for er running along the fringe on the edge
"Why would you think that?" I ask, pulling her chin to s, and looks down to her feet
"My mom is just a little protective And I haven’t really…well I don’t…date?" My words come out unsure, maybe embarrassed The last tih school--and that resulted in Leah
"Look," I say, pulling her hand into h hers God, I love the way they look together "My mom wouldn’t let you live here if she didn’t like you You sa she was tonight, playing hostess to Cee Cee…or Chandra My mom hates her, and I don’t think she’s very subtle about it And you have to understand…she and Leah have been the only women in my life for about five years--at least, that she knows of"
"And I don’t need to know about any others either," Paige interrupts, pulling the blanket into her other arnize as her jealous siven me that smile before, and I love that she has She’s actually jealous that I’ve dated--both sweet and ridiculous at the same time I lift the cooler and carry it in both ar behind me We both walk to the car silently, and the nervous sensation of everything makes irl in the tree house for a first kiss Only we’ve already kissed Which, of course, makes me about a e, and tuck it in the back seat along with the cooler, opening the door for her and waiting while she cli I’m not even discreet about it