Page 54 of The Friendly Fall

Are they fighting?

“You know, not to be a brag,” Mom begins, and her word choice causes me to instantly cringe. “Nick is great with schedules. I’m sure that he’d be more than happy to help you figure out a realistic itinerary. When his father first got sick, Nick handled everything—and he was only seventeen.”

Eliza looks over at me, something warm in her eyes. “Wow, you were so young.”

“He wasveryyoung, and he was too young to shoulder such a responsibility. I’m not sure how he managed to do it, and on top ofthat he got a full ride to the state university to play football—which he turned down.”

Eliza’s fork hits the plate. “You turned down a full ride?”

I feel my cheeks growing warm. “Well … Yeah … But—”

“We tried to get him to take it,” Mom chimes in. “But he didn’t want to see me hire anyone—money was tight—so he didn’t go to college at all. I really worried that he would regret it.”

“I don’t regret it at all,” I breathe out, hating the sympathetic looks I’m getting from all three women. “It’s not like that. I chose to stay because I wanted to, and I think it was the right choice. I’m happy with my life.”

And I’d be happier if I could just … catch Eliza’s romantic attention.

But I’ve long let winning over Eliza go.

Now,thatis a defeat.

“Well, I think it’s really admirable what you did.” Eliza’s voice brings me out from my inner pity party. “It’s not that often that you see people making those kinds of selfless sacrifices. It just shows how much you love your family, and what you’re willing to do for the people you care about.”

I nod, glancing over to my mom, who’s smiling a country mile wide. As much as it’s annoying for her to be trying to build me up, the pure joy on her face makes me ignore the negative feelings. I just hate that she’s going to be sorely disappointed when Eliza and Idon’tend up together.

Besides, I used my mom’s account to take a peek at Eliza’s photography page, and naturally,Devonshowed up. For all I know, they’re getting back together.

Maybe that’s what’s getting to Eliza right now.

I finish eating without saying much, listening to Ms. Marilyn and my mom drone on about Thanksgiving recipes, Christmas, and other lady talk. I steal glances at Eliza every so often, but surprisingly, she’s into the conversation.

“Why don’t you two go for a walk or something while we clean up?” Mom suggests as she finally stands to her feet, reaching for my plate.

“I can help clean up,” Eliza chimes in. “After all, you two are our guests.”

“No, no,” Martha dismisses her. “I love chatting with Marilyn, and don’t mind doing dishes; it’s rather relaxing for me.”

“Yes, you two, go.” Ms. Marilyn shoos us from the table. “It’s a beautiful evening. Grab a coat and go do what you young people do.”

Mom and Ms. Marilyn burst into a fit of laughter that I don’t understand—and don’t intend to try to. I look to Eliza, who shrugs.

“Well, come on,” she says, her voice has an edge that I don’t totally understand.

Maybe she’s going to tell me about Devon.

He’s never come up in conversation, but if they’re getting back together, it might be the topic of the evening. After all, we’ve grown close.

I grab her coat from the rack and help her slide into it, ignoring the intoxicating scent of her perfume in the air and the way the warm glow of the lights glimmers on her blonde hair.

“Thanks,” she mutters as she reaches for the front door handle. “I think they just want to talk about us.”

“Probably.” I chuckle, sliding on my own coat and stepping out into the evening air. The sun has nearly disappeared beneath the horizon, but there’s enough streetlights to keep the street lit. “It is nice out though.”

“Yeah,” she agrees, before walking down the ramp and leaving me there.

I trot to catch up with her, my boots crunching in the leaves as we make it to the edge of the yard. “I need to come and rake those up.”

Eliza gives me a funny look. “I think it’s a waste. There’s always more the next day.”

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