Page 87 of Keepsake

“You don’t have a reason.”

I didn’t. I cut the sandwich and put it in Vienna’s lunch box for the next day, avoiding Dashiell’s exasperated gaze.

Vienna wanted to take drama after school. I was happy she was taking an interest in extracurricular activities, but it meant I’d have to go back to pick her up an hour and a half after Dash.

He wanted to get on the bus.

“You’re new to the city.” I grabbed a peach to finish up the lunchbox.

“It’s just a bus.” He blew out a breath as Alvaro came in, finding a bottle of water in the fridge. “Tío, you tell her.”

I turned to him, knife in hands and arching my eyebrow. Putting his drink down, he took the knife out of my hands.

“Maybe I shouldn’t get involved.”

“Maybe you can pick him up.” I smiled.

“Sorry, Jefa.” He shook his head. “Project deadlines are cutting close. I’ll be late most days.”

I shrugged to Dashiell. “You heard him.”

“I heard him saying he can’t pick me up. Logan, it’s just a bus. What’s the big deal?”

I bit down on my lip and frowned to myself. It was only when I felt a warm hand cupping my shoulder that I realized Alvaro came to stand beside me.

“Let me talk to Logan for a second, Dash.”

The teenager growled but left the kitchen. I blew out a breath, rubbing my temple before Alvaro captured my fingers between his and made me look up. He didn’t like something in my expression. I could tell by the soft noise from the back of his throat.

Quickly, he took me in his arms and propped me on top of the counter, spreading my legs and standing between them.

“It’s just a bus,” he said.

“Not you too.”

Alvaro shook his head. “I’ll go with whatever you decide, Jefa, but explain it to me, ok?”

“I don’t know,” I told him the truth. “I don’t know what to do with Dashiell, and it feels like if I give him a little freedom…”

“Ah.” He nodded. “He’ll just go.”

I bit down on my lip. “I know he isn’t running away. I know that.”

“Still, you fear him being independent.”

I frowned. “I don’t want to give him any ideas.”

“The ideas are already there.”

I nodded. He was right. I was scared of letting Dash go, like getting a bus was going to be enough proof he could do it all by himself. In my heart, I knew they needed me as much as I needed them. But I wanted him to know that, too.

Alvaro hummed under his breath, burying his nose in my neck. “You think so loudly.”

I dropped my head onto his shoulder. “I guess he can get the bus.”

His palm came behind my head, massaging my scalp slowly. “There you go, you can relax.”

“You keep saying that.”

---