Page 87 of Steps

She twists her mouth, thinking. “Yeah, but he onlystarted going the past week or so. I detected a change before that. Little bylittle.” She squints at me. “Think you’re rubbing off on my brother.”

I turn warm and tingly all over and quickly lowermy eyes to my lap to hide the truth in them. “I’m only trying to be a friend.”

“It’s cool.” She chuckles softly. “To be honest,I’m a bit jealous that you got him to open up when I couldn’t, much less Dad.But I’m happy V’s doing better. Thank you, Toya.”

No, don’t thank me.

Meeting her gaze, I shrug and smile in return. Wehear footsteps coming upstairs and look at the doorway at the same time.

Varen sticks his head in, sweaty and hot as ever.I steer my eyes across to Alison, fearful she’ll catch me lusting.

“I’m going to meet some friends,” he says.

Alison scoffs. “Since when do you tell anybodyyou’re leaving? You usually just go.”

I set my eyes back on him. Varen shrugs. “Yeah,well, just letting you know.” He looks at me before turning away.

“As I’ve said,” she remarks, drawing back myattention, “he’s changed.”

“Hm.”

Alison leaves with a donation box once shefinishes going through her closet, and I end up alone in the house until Momand Daniel return later that afternoon.

Mom shows me pictures of the houses they’ve seen,gushing over the ones she likes best. It’s great that they’re so happytogether, and I’m afraid of affecting this joy in any way.

When their wedding planner stops by, I retreat tothe quiet of my room, reading until evening.

My phone vibrates beside me on the bed.Uncontrollably, my tummy flaps and my lips curve upward when I see it’s Varencalling.

“Who’s this?” I answer, feigning nonchalance.

“Ha-ha. I think we’re due for another date.”

“Is that so?” I sit up in bed. “Where do you wantto go, and how will we do this?”

He exhales intensely into the phone. “I’ll pickyou up at eight, two houses down. Wear that cute flower dress, you know theone, and don’t forget your shoes.”

“Okay then. Anything else?” I gnaw at my lip as Iwait.

Only his breathing comes through. I can tellthere’s something he wants to say, but he just huffs and utters instead, “No.See you in a bit.”

“All right.”

I check the time on the phone afterward. It’salmost seven. Daniel’s making dinner tonight. Varen didn’t say where he’staking me, but I don’t want to leave with a full stomach if we’re going out toeat.

Biting my nails, I try to think up an excuse toget out of the house at eight o’clock while everyone’s still awake.

It’s Saturday night.

Summer vacation from school.

I’m seventeen.

The only excuse is either a party or a date. Idecide to go with the latter. This will probably excite my mom. Besides, it’snot a lie. The only issue is with whom.

Finding courage, I walk upstairs to the kitchen.Mom is sitting at the island drinking wine and talking with Daniel. He’s makingmeatballs and spaghetti.

I clear my throat to draw their attention. Whenthey turn to me, I blurt out, “This guy from school asked me on a date.”

---