Page 27 of Just Can't Fall for the Enemy

“Yes! For Christmas. It’ll be so much better than my old one that broke. Then Mom won’t have to push me around everywhere.”

“I don’t mind, silly,” his mom said.

“But I do. You only want to talk to old people and always about boring stuff.” He rolled his eyes.

I put my hands on my hips and laughed. “Old people like me?”

“You aren’t old. You’re my friend.”

I gave him a brief hug. “Why, thank you. So, about that shaved ice. Which flavor will it be tonight?”

His face brightened. “Cherry and grape with a dab of blue raspberry.”

I playfully rubbed the top of his head. “I thought you liked weird combinations. Those aren’t weird.”

“They are when you mix them. They turn into this oozy brown mess. And they taste good together. You want one?”

“I’m not a fan of cold treats,” I told him. “I have sensitive teeth. You’ll have to enjoy it for the both of us.”

“Good thing I brought this, then,” Tanner said, coming up behind me with two lidded cups. He handed me one. “Hot cocoa for the lady. Extra cream. Not sure if there’s anythingbesidescream in there, to be honest.”

“Then it’s made right.” I placed both hands around it, letting the hot cup warm my chilled hands. Despite the sun setting earlier and autumn in full swing around me, I kept forgetting how cold it got at night in the fall.

Nate’s eyes couldn’t be wider. “You’re Tanner fromTanner Carmichael Travels the World!”

Tanner leaned over to look Nate in the eye. “Indeed. Who might you be?”

“Nate Stewart. I watch your show all the time. Just ask my mom.”

His mother laughed. “He isn’t lying. He wants to travel the world too—as soon as he turns eighteen in seven years.” Her eyes grew slightly misty at that, but she quickly reined it in. Even after high school graduation, Nate’s travels would require a companion to help.

The sight of his mom’s emotions surfacing, even for the briefest of moments, made that familiar pain stab through my chest again.

“There’s a lot to see in this world,” Tanner said. “If you want, I’ll make you a list of my top ten favorite places.”

“Really?” Nate asked, his voice full of awe.

“Of course. It would be a waste to stay in the same place your entire life if you don’t want to.”

Being here is such a waste, Mom. I want to see the world too.My own words, said at age seventeen. In a moment, the memory came flooding back.

She’d been packing for their trip. Since they’d never left town before, and especially since they hadn’t leftmebehind before, I felt a little betrayed. It was their anniversary trip, so obviously I didn’t expect them to bring me along. But Mom seemed more open to the idea of traveling than she’d ever been, so I saw the moment as my opportunity to negotiate a future trip for the three of us. She’d stamped out the idea immediately.

“But why?” I’d shot back. “Being here is such a waste, Mom. I want to see the world too.”

She could have gotten angry, but she didn’t. Instead, she stopped packing her suitcase and came around the bed to sit next to me. “Maybe someday you will. But right now, it’s comforting for us to know you’re safe in a town full of people who love you.”

I hadn’t known it would be my last real conversation with her. One moment my parents were there, large as life, waving from the car window. The next, they were gone forever.

And Nate had almost followed not too long ago.

Suddenly, I didn’t want Tanner anywhere near my little friend. “Nate, I have to take Tanner away for a while. I’m showing him the cemetery tonight.”

“Ooh! Will you show him the shoe stone? That’s my favorite.”

“Of course.”

He turned back to Tanner and waved. “Nice to meet you.”

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