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I could see Darren trying to calculate how to greetIis not so I’m comfortable with anyh

“Nice to see you too, Darren”

I was already hating having to socialize, and I knee’d do so later, but for now, I turned my attention to Olivia — an easy distraction

Olivia was looking at Bryant, as staring into our home It could be a lot to take in for the first time, especially for a tiny child I was about to try and facilitate so, but Olivia stepped forward all on her own

“Do you want to see inside?” she asked in her musical voice

Bryant nodded enthusiastically before letting Olivia take his hand The two of them rushed into the house, and Darren and I followed them to Olivia’s playroom The kids did fall easily into their own rhythm I shouldn’t have been surprised The two of the to do with one another

It did leave Darren andnext to one another while atched theer than I expected, but I was comfortable with it Darren, on the other hand, needed it broken, which was precisely what he did

“So, how have you been?”

I turned s between Darren and I were so aard We’d been friends since high school and hout the years, but when Kylie passed away, our friendship didn’t surviveOlivia and myself off froet a text here or there I’d drop Olivia off to play with Bryant but never stick around It was clear things between us had changed, and a lot of it fell on s had to be

“I’m fine Olivia and I are fine”

“Really?”

I could see the concern in his eyes This was the very thing I had been trying to avoid It was kind of uess, but I didn’t want to have to s

I was about to try and find a way to get out of the conversation when the doorbell rang again, jolting me out of my seat It was very unexpected People never just caet to, and I never let anyone over In