Page 55 of When Sparks Fly

“It’s not that.”

Leah’s frown deepens and she eyes Izzy.

“Can we talk a sec?” Izzy gestures at the empty chair.

Leah sits without speaking. Her posture is guarded.

“Izzy and I want to check in with you. It seems like maybe you’re going through something you haven’t mentioned.” I don’t want Izzy to always have to be the one to say the hard things, so I dive in.

As expected, Leah throws herself against the metal back of the patio chair and crosses her arms. “You guys are so ridiculous sometimes. I don’t need an intervention.” Her tone lacks true anger.

“We aren’t saying you do,” Izzy argues, leaning forward. “We just want you to know we’re here for you.”

“I haven’t been good at checking in on you.” I chew my lip.

“You don’t need to! You’re dealing with Nana’s passing.” Leah’s face turns red and she looks away from us.

“I think we’re all dealing with that,” I offer softly. “Still, if there’s something else going on with you, I will always make time to listen. You know that. You guys are my best friends. My sisters.”

Izzy squeezes my hand from next to me.

Quiet hangs between us all. When Leah finally speaks, her words are quiet and her eyes stay on the stained concrete floor. “Lily called and wants to move in with me. She says it’s temporary, but we all know that’s not true.”

“What did you tell her?” Izzy’s voice is also quiet.

“I told her my landlord doesn’t allow people not on the lease. She thinks I’m talking to them.” She sighs heavily.

I’m not surprised Leah doesn’t want her sister moving in. Through the years, we’ve seen Lily’s ability to coerce people into helping her at their expense. She has a knack for attracting drama and isn’t great with general cleanliness. Not to mention the kids involved. Unfortunately, Lily also has a tendency to be persistent and I imagine Leah is under more stress than she’s letting on.

“I’m sorry.”

Leah forces a tight-lipped smile my way. “I’ll figure it out. I just didn’t want you taking on my bullshit, too.”

“I will. Anytime.”

“We both will.” Izzy maintains her hold on my hand as she reaches over to take one of Leah’s.

Leah nods at the ground. “Ok then,” she says looking up at us, “I guess I’ll get a soda. Damn buzzkills.”

We dive into taco sorting as Leah heads inside. When she returns and plops down, Izzy and I are both chewing ridiculously large bites of our tacos.

“Spill it.” She crosses one leg over the other with sass and shakes her flip-flop-clad foot at me.

I roll my eyes and open my mouth to speak, but movement behind her catches my attention. It’s not so much that thereismovement from the parking, as much as, without trying, I recognize the truck and fiery butterflies take flight in my chest again.

Leah shifts her torso to look behind her chair inquisitively. “Is that him?”

The truck settles into a spot.

Izzy sets her taco down and wipes her hands with a napkin. “Sutton?” She focuses on me while Leah stares down the truck.

My cheeks heat. The three of us watch as the driver-side door swings open in the parking space and Sutton emerges. He presses on his phone and puts it up to his ear as he makes his way toward the front door.

“Are you going to say anything?” Izzy prompts.

“He looks busy.” My argument is lackluster at best. Truthfully, I know I won’t be able to hide my giddy grin and blushing cheeks from my friends.

“Sounds like as good a test as any to me.” Leah is facing me again, with her head cocked to one side, as she references him. I know they won’t let up.

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