Page 213 of One Big Little Secret

“Arlo’s on the mend. He’ll be fine, in case you wondered,” I say finally, when they don’t speak. “You came here because you were worried abouthim,right?”

Dad takes off his glasses and meticulously cleans them on the edge of his shirt before putting them back on. It’s a tell he’s had forever when he’s nervous or at a loss for words.

His eyes are the same watery light-brown glass they’ve always been, but they can’t hide his feelings now.

“Patton Rory,” he repeats. “Of all people, she could have at least told us—”

“Byron,” Mom snaps, unleashing the anger that’s been building inside her.

She’s always been the one with the temper. She uses words like swords, but time and motherhood has hardened my skin.

If she wants to stab me in the face, I’m ready.

I’ll never let Arlo experience the same awful feelings she inflicted on me, the dread that I was never good enough.

“Salem Hopper, you need to tread lightly,” she whispers. Her anger is unsheathed, and the kid working with Junie looks at us. “This is not a game. Men like Patton Rory will entertain you as long as you’re pretty and interesting, but that doesn’t last forever. Come home before it’s too late, before you lose everything.”

“Did I say we were dating?” I retort. The color drains from Mom’s overdone face. “He’s a good man to the end. He’s responsible and he’s perfectly happy to step up.” I stand then, taking one more little cake from the beautifully crafted stand. “It’s nice to know it’s possible, especially when he’s so rich. If you guys want back in my life, you should think about how you want to handle things next time. Think about how Patton treats me. Thinkhard.”

“Salem, wait. Don’t you dare walk out. Don’t you dare leave us—” Mom says, but I don’t turn around. I’m up and moving.

Just like before, we part ways with someone walking out.

Only, this time it’s me.

This day hasno chill whatsoever.

I get home to find Kayla waiting for me—the cyanide icing on this awful day.

I just wanted a quick stop to grab a few things before I return to Delly’s place to pick up Arlo.

She’s sitting on the stairs by the door, her coat hunched around her shoulders, looking like a demented flamingo. She must like the way the fluffy pink draws eyes to her waist.

“Lemmy, where have youbeen? I’ve been waiting forever.”

I don’t take her hand. “You never said you were stopping by.”

“Um, did I need to? What’s with the attitude?” Her bottom lip juts out in a pout that’s worked miracles a thousand times before. It’s definitely worked me over, before I figured out how to grow a backbone. “I heard about Arlo and I wanted to drop by and give my condolences.”

“He’s still alive, Kay.”

“Oh, wow. Of course he is. Yay?” She gives me a pained smile.

Someone needs to strangle this girl.

Also, it’s a weird coincidence to find her here after that toxic meeting with my parents. But this time I don’t spiral.

I don’t let myself believe I was cursed in a past life and the universe is really out to get me.I can learn.

“Did you tell my mother about Arlo? Did you ask her to come out?” I ask point-blank.

Her eyelashes flutter at the hardness in my tone.

I know they still talk once in a blue moon. My parents practically worshipped the Persephones and hoped that just being around Kay would make me richer.

And although I know I summoned my mom in the panic over Arlo, I never put her up to coming back to Kansas City. With Kay showing up unannounced, I’m suspicious Mom had encouragement.

“Nope,” she says, but she hesitates a beat. “I told my mom, of course, but you know how it is…Shemight have told your mom, but as for me, I—”

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