Page 24 of To Love Jason Thorn

“Weird? I don’t know, probably. You neverwere an ordinary girl, though.”

Stopping at the red light, I faced her. Shewas looking out the window, her hands resting on her lap in tight little fists.I tugged at a strand of her strawberry blonde hair—which looked much lighterthan it had years before—and she looked at me. I smiled and said, “Hi.”

She bit on her lower lip and smiled back shyly.“Hi back.”

“I missed you, little one. I didn’t evenknow how much until I saw you.” Her smile faltered a bit, but she managed toturn it into a lopsided smile, which looked strangely attractive on her.

The light turned green and I had to give myattention to the road, special cargo and all that. Several minutes passed by withneither one of us saying anything, then we both spoke at the same time.

“Did you—”

“Can I—”

I chuckled. “You go first.”

“I just wanted to ask why you stoppedcalling Dylan. For a while there, he used to get touchy if someone mentionedyou. I think he didn’t want to show how upset he was. I know it’s none of mybusiness and you certainly don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but I’vealways wondered.”

When the car in front of me stopped due totraffic, I changed lanes and slowed down. Rubbing the back of my neck, I letout a deep breath.

“You don’t have to answer,” she repeatedbefore I could form an answer in my mind. I didn’t have a good enough reason togive to her.

“No, it’s okay, little one. I know it was ashitty thing to do after everything your family had done for me. To be honest,the first few weeks were really hard. Maybe you remember,” I said, glancing ather. “My father and I were never close, and my mother’s death didn’t changeanything on that front. The day I left you guys, he didn’t even speak one wordto me the entire ride here. When we finally made it, he showed me to an emptyroom in a big house and went back to his clients. Just like that. I barely sawhim, and he certainly didn’t care what I was doing. Unfortunately, it only gotworse after that. I didn’t want to be that kid who only called to complain.And, don’t tell your mom, but I think if I had talked to Emily about how I wasdoing, I would’ve broken down and cried like a baby when I heard her call mesweetheart in that tone of hers. Lying to Dylan was surprisingly easier.” Whenshe didn’t say anything, I continued. “And in time, with school and then themovie stuff…”

It sounded lame even to my own ears.

“I’m sorry you had a rough time when youfirst got here, but you must be so happy now. I’m glad things turned out forthe better. When we watched your first movie, I think I saw Mom wipe away tearsmore than a few times.”

“She cried for an action movie?”

“You were shot, and well, I think she criedbecause she was proud of you.”

An arrow straight to my chest. When mymother had passed out from her daily drinking, consequently locking me out forthe night, Emily had taken me in. After that night, I’d stayed at their housemore than I had at my own. She’d been a better mom to me than my own could everbe. Dylan was my brother and Olive…well, Olive had been my friend, too. Theywere the only family I’d known. It was as simple as that.

“You really didn’t miss me?” I asked,trying to diffuse the heavy quiet in the car. “Didn’t wait by the phone for mycall? Come on, don’t be shy. You can tell me.” I watched her out of the cornerof my eye.

She laughed. It was beautiful to watch.

“I definitely didn’t wait by the phone.”

“But you admit to missing me, don’t you?”

“Maybe,” she said so quietly that I wasn’teven sure if I’d heard her right.

When her phone rang, she gave me anapologetic look and answered it.

“Where are you? No. Okay. Yes, themeeting is over, I’m on my way back. Ok, I’ll be home soon. No! No, waitinside. Lucy, I swear to god, if I find you outside—Hello? Lucy? Damn you!”

“Something wrong?” I asked, amused.

“No, it’s okay. Well, good news for you,you don’t have to drive me all the way to USC. We’re closer to the house.”

“Lucy is your roommate?”

“One of them.”

“How many roommates do you have?”

“With Lucy, three.”

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