Page 42 of Home With You

"After arguing about it, yes." I smile.

"I'm surprised. She was so upset about all of this." Gladys waves her hand toward the tent. "I didn't think she'd accept anything more."

"About that." I take the milk crate that's next to her and move it in front of her, sitting down. "Why does Raine get so angry when I give her stuff?"

Gladys reaches over and pats my hand. "Just let it be."

"What does that mean?"

"It means she'll tell you when she's ready." She sits back in her chair. "What is it you want with her, Miles?"

"I just want to get to know her."

"Why her? I know she's a beautiful girl but she's not at a good place in her life. She's struggling. She has a past."

"You mean the drugs? She told me about that."

"She did?" Gladys raises her brows. "I'm surprised she'd tell you."

"She told me last night. She told me the whole story. And she told me about her mom taking off. And her dad."

Gladys frowns and looks down at her tan, wrinkled hands resting in her lap.

"What's wrong?"

She shakes her head. "She wants what she can't have."

"Meaning what?"

"I didn't think she'd even consider it again this soon."

"Consider what? What are you talking about?"

She lifts her eyes to mine. "Raine's a sweet girl. She pretends not to be, but she is. She cares for me like family, even though we met just a few months ago."

Gladys coughs and doesn't stop. I reach for her bottle of water and hand it to her. She takes a sip, then says, "You seem like a nice young man, but I just don't think now is the time."

"The time for what?"

"She still has so much to work through. She needs to learn to trust herself again."

"Gladys, what are you saying? Are you telling me to leave Raine alone?"

She stares at me a moment, then smiles. "Actually, no. I think you might be just what Raine needs. But not in a romantic way. She needs you to be a friend. Someone she can trust."

"Of course she can trust me, but I have to admit, I do have feelings for her. As more than a friend."

"I know you do. And I know she feels the same way about you. I can tell by the way her eyes light up when she talks about you. But she won't let you in, Miles. So don't expect her to. And don't wait for her. If it were a different time, a different place, maybe you two could be what you were hoping for, but now isn't the time. And Raine knows that. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she told you that herself."

She kind of already did by telling me to go away, and turning me down whenever I ask her out.

"You're a very handsome young man," Gladys continues. "You could have most any girl you choose. So choose one of them, not my sweet Raine. She's not ready. She needs more time."

"More time for what? I don't get it."

Gladys doesn't answer, her eyes shutting as she hums to herself. I guess she's telling me she's done talking, but I need to know more.

I glance at the street to check for Raine but she's not there. She's taking longer than I thought she would. She better not have run away and ditched me. I want to keep getting to know her. I want to figure out how she got here, why she's living this way.

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