Page 17 of Stealing Sunshine

The football field is empty today, but it won’t stay that way much longer. Once school starts next week, everything is going to get a bit crazier. My life especially.

“You know I’d rather live with you. But while I mean this with all the love in the world, your place is . . . a little . . . rough around the edges,” I say carefully.

She whips her head to the side so fast oneof her blonde curls slaps me across the face. Her glare is weak, more for show than anything else.

“That’s rude.”

“I said I meant it with love. It’s better than the haunted house, at least.”

“That’s literally the whole reasoning behind saying ‘no offense’ before dropping a serious insult.”

I laugh. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry, but even you can admit your place needs some love.”

Love and a bulldozer.

The one and only apartment building in town is two stories tall with eight one-bedroom rentals inside. It hasn’t been updated since it was built forever ago and is cheap for a reason. But in Cherry Peak, you can’t be picky about your housing unless you plan to buy instead of rent. Most of the people who live here have been residents for generations and were either handed down property or have the funds to build something new.

“It’s just classic, Didi. You know,original.”

“Originally a dump.”

“Daisy!” she scolds, giving my arm a shove. “At least I have a place.”

“Can’t argue with you there.”

“So, Bryce?”

I wince as memories of the last time I spoke to Bryce come spiralling back. I’m beyond nervous to stay with her, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to do my best to make it work. My only other choice is to move back in with my moms.

“Yep,” I say.

“And? When are you moving in?”

Kristen keeps her eyes on me, her interest in this situation obvious. I don’t blame her for it either. It’ll be an interesting next few weeks.

“She said she’d text me with information.”

“Alright. Well, it’s not like you have a lot of stuff to bring. Allof your furniture from Calgary was included in your rental, right?”

I nod. “All I’ll take are my clothes, shoes, and toiletries. Things like that.”

“Obviously, I’ll be helping you.”

My lips curve into a grin. “Obviously.”

“I’ll feel out the big bad ice queen while I’m there. Make sure she isn’t going to turn you into an ice sculpture in your sleep.”

“I think she’d most likely freeze and shatter me before bothering to sculpt me.”

She snorts a laugh and looks up at the sky again, her hands folded over her stomach. “Just make sure you don’t stay there if you’re going to be unhappy. I’ll buy you some heavy-duty earplugs for your brother’s house before watching you suffer somewhere.”

“Thanks, Kiki. But I don’t think it’ll be quite that bad. We’ll both be working during the day, and I’m not looking for another best friend or anything. It’ll be fine.”

“What does she even do for work? Do you know?”

“I think she works at the town office. Her dad’s the mayor.”

A pause. “I’m sorry for her loss, then. That man leaves a lot to be desired.”

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