Page 21 of The Sweet Spot

Mom and Darius look up from the TV in surprise when we burst through the door. It never occurred to me he’d be here. I’m beyond relieved I didn’t catch them having sex on the couch or something.

“Oh. Hey, guys.” I pause just inside the door, toeing my sneakers off.

“Wren?” My mother’s already halfway across the room, probably attuned to whatever vibe Saira and I are bringing in. She might try to smudge us with sage if I don’t proceed with caution. “Saira! I thought you were in Encinitas!”

“Hey, Lily.” Saira grins, giving my mother a hug. “I came back last night. Missed Wren too much.”

“Aww, my girl.” Mom hugs Saira, stroking her long, dark hair. “You two have always been so close.”

I take Saira’s place, suddenly grateful for the familiarity of my mother’s arms. Guess seeing Luca dragged into a fight shook me up more than I realized. I’m just glad it was over quickly.

“You look a little pale. What’s going on?” Mom asks, frowning as she holds me at arm’s length. “Bad day?”

“Just super tired,” I lie, loosening my ponytail. “But I’m going to sleep over at Saira’s if it’s okay.”

“Of course, it is,” she says. “Just be home by noon—remember, we’re going to Gram’s for dinner.”

Shoot, that’s right. It’s Gramma Kate’s 70thbirthday. “No worries.”

“I’ll have her back by eleven,” Saira adds. “We’re just gonna hang out.”

Mom entreats her to join us for the birthday party as I turn to Darius and offer a belated hug. “Sorry we interrupted your movie.”

“Nothing to be sorry about, baby girl,” he says in his deep, raspy voice. “How was the boardwalk?”

“Ah, the boardwalk.” I shrug, flinging my arm dramatically. “Same yesterday, today and forever.”

“That’s real.” He laughs, nodding. “That’s what we like about it, though, right?”

* * *

Forty minutes later, we’re in Saira’s bedroom, cuddled in the aromatic comfort of curry and spices. Mrs. Mangal is from Trinidad and, unlike my beloved mother, can cook like nobody’s business.

“Stop eating all the dhal puri,” Saira says, smacking my hand. “We’re supposed to be sharing.”

“It’s past my dinnertime, and I’m only eating my share,” I retort, scooting back on the carpet so that she can’t reach me.

“I’d better not find ground chickpeas all over the ground,” she warns, shooting me a look.

“You sound just like your mother.”

She snorts. “Remember the time Anik got cake crumbs and frosting all over the stupid white carpet in the living room, trying to impress you?”

“Your mom was like, ‘we don’t eat in front of the TV, Anik!’” We crack up at the memory. Poor Anik. He had a mad crush on me for a minute when we were kids.

“Wonder what he’s up to tonight?” I muse, licking my fingers.

“Who Anik? Pfft. He’s dating some girl,” says Saira, taking an enormous bite of roti. “Anyway, forget him. Let’s discuss Arlo.”

I look up at her, tilting my head. “What about him?”

She wipes her mouth delicately. “I don’t know. Have you thought any more about responding to him?”

“When would I have had time to think about him?” I set my food down. “We’ve been hanging out with those guys all day. We’d probably still be with them if they hadn’t started fighting.”

“Yeah, that sucked. I was feeling Kellan and I know for a fact he was feelingme.”

“They all go to UCSC, you know.” I feel all wistful now, extra sad that Luca and I didn’t exchange numbers. Did our kisses affect him the way they did me?

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