Page 122 of When You Had Me Adapting

I nod and sip my iced tea. When we finish eating, I get up and place my plate in the dishwasher. My mom walks over, placing hers next to mine.

“What was all the fuss about before lunch?” she asks in a hushed tone.

“It was nothing,” I lie.

“Didn’t seem like nothing,” she says unamused. “Why don’t you three go spend time with your father and I’ll clean up the mess in here?” She picks up a sponge and begins to clean a dish sitting in the sink.

“Lacey and I can clean up,” Jace offers from behind us.

“I can help too,” Colt adds.

“That won’t be necessary. Jace is our guest, Lacey hates to clean, and your finger is injured,” she says.

“Well then I can clean up,” Jace says, offering her a smile. “You three go spend time with each other.”

My mom breathes deep, rings out the sponge, and dries her hands. “Thank you,” she says, walking away and leaving the three of us in the kitchen.

“You don’t have to go in there,” Colt says. “I’m sure it’s going to be more baseball talk.” He offers me a sheepish smile and rolls his eyes. “They probably want to know more about all the MLB scouts that aren’t calling.”

“It’ll happen.” I squeeze his upper arm. “You sure you won’t be mad? I don’t know how much more I can take today.”

“Not at all. Stay and help Jace clean up. I’ll call you when I’m back in Massachusetts and we can catch up.”

“You promise to call me this time?”

“Yes,” he assures me. “Plus I’ll be home again one more time before fall semester starts. I’ll even carve out a whole day for my favorite sister.”

“I’m your only sister.”

“Still my favorite,” he says, turning to walk out of the kitchen.

“Oh, Colt,” I yell behind him.

“Yeah?”

“I’ll be sure to keep your finger in my thoughts and prayers.”

He shakes his head and laughs before turning and heading into the living room.

Jace and I load the dishwasher, clear the table and wipe down the counters. When we’re finished, I lean back against the island, watching Jace load the leftovers into the fridge.

“Thank you for helping,” I say, drying my hands and placing the towel back on its designated hook. He walks back to where I stand and leans on the counter, his arms caging me in.

“I don’t mind.”

“Sorry if today was weird.” His ocean-blue eyes find mine.

“It wasn’t.”

I laugh. “Yes, it was.”

“I’m glad you know about the necklace.”

My hand finds the locket and I move it up the chain. “Me too. I think I’ve had enough Sims family fun to last me for a while. You ready to head out?”

“You sure? I know you miss Colt.”

“I’m positive. Didn’t you say you wanted to do something before you dropped me off?”

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