Page 82 of Between the Lines

After the period begins, I have the hallways to myself, and decide to take an aimless walk around the building to clear my head. I turn the corner down the athletics hall and bump into Aaron, who is on his prep. As always, he bolsters a huge smile.

“Hey! Twice in one day, my guy! How’s it going?”

“Fine,” I say, exhaling harshly. “How are you?”

He eyes me suspiciously, then lifts a brow and says, “Good. Just trying to make the most of my prep, since the lady and I are helping Claire move tonight.”

He says his words with a calculating slowness. My face tightens when he says her name, and as his brow and lip hitch, I realize what he’s doing.

“You know, I can send you Penny’s address, if you’re looking to swing by.”

I shake my head immediately, overdoing it to keep myself from nodding.

“I don’t think Claire would want her boss intruding on her move.”

Aaron smirks.

“You know, buddy, it’sokayif you have a little crush on her.”

He chuckles.Chuckles. And while he has his laugh, my heart does a two-step.

Aaron claps a hand on my shoulder as he walks past.

“She’s only here for a few more months, man. You have my number if you want the address.”

I shake my head, forcing myself to ignore the fact that when he’d mentioned the wordscrushandClairein the same sentence, something happened in my heart. Something akin to thosenormal teenagerfeelingsmy mom had encouraged all those years ago.

Is this what it feels like to have a crush?

thirty-four

claire

“So,what, you’re just ditching us?”

“It’s not like that, Zo.”

Apparently, all of the coaching I’d done aboutnot cryingwas fruitless. The moment my sister accuses me of leaving them to fend for themselves, I’m done for.

“She’s just moving out, Zoey. Get over it. She’s an adult for crying out loud.”

Michael at least looks up from his phone to say this, but Zoey is firm on her stance: Her brows are drawn tight, and I couldn’t erase that scowl with a magic eraser if I tried.

“Michael’s right,” I nod. “This is just what happens when you grow up. It’ll happen to you guys one day, too.”

“But who will teach me how to braid?” Harper asks, crawling into my lap on the living room couch.

I gather her hair into a ponytail and start twining three strands slowly together.

“I’ll still come visit.”

“It won’t be the same,” Zoey insists, crossing her arms.

Oliver doesn’t quite understand. But while Harper snifflessilently in my lap, it’s Ryan who punctures the arrow through my heart.

“Claire, if you’re gone, who will tuck me in at night?”

The realization hits me, just how much I’ve taken on. Am I doing the right thing?

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