Page 47 of Steps

It’s no longer raining, but it’s misty outside.

Varen comes downstairs as I’m going up to the mainlevel. He looks fresh in his white graphic shirt and dark jeans, hair damp fromthe shower. He smells incredible, as always.

A delighted expression forms on his face as heglances over my attire.

“Pizza all right?” he asks.

“Sure.”

Varen smirks. “You’re staring, Toya.”

“Sorry.” I drop my eyes from him quickly.

He steps around me, brushing my arm as he does,and grabs his keys from the table in the entry.

“Let’s go.”

10

Varen drives nearly half an hour to a mom and popspizza joint. He says it’s his favorite. We share a medium pepperoni and fries.

“How about starting a new hobby?” I suggest afterfinishing my first slice. Varen is on his second. “It’ll keep your mind busy.”

He shrugs. “Like what?”

“Um...” I consider while eating. “Ooh, there’s apaint tossing warehouse near my school, where you fill balloons with differentcolors and throw them at a huge white wall. It’s supposed to be fun and a wayto de-stress.”

Varen glances at the fries as if deliberating.“Cool. What else?”

“Bike rides,” I blurt. “We could ride around parksor find trails.”

“Hmm.” He nods, getting more interested. “Go on.”

“It’s warmer out. How about taking harbor cruises?I hear those are fun.”

He smirks. “You know, Toya, everything you’vesuggested sounds like dates.”

I gulp in surprise. “I wasn’t implying going out—”

“I know. It’d be fun though if they were in factdates. Don’t you think?” He drinks his soda, eyeing me in this sneaky way.“I’ve never had to woo a girl or take her out.”

I suck my teeth. “You’re not wooing me, andanyway, you should treat girls better, other than as sex objects.”

“The ones I meet treat me the same.” He pauses amoment. “But not you. You actually make me want to put in the work.”

My body quivers as he moistens his lip. “Ahem. So,back to the topic of you tryinghealthyactivities.”

He squares his shoulders. “What if those don’t work?What if I go right back to my thoughts, missing my mom, and wanting to suppressthe pain with drugs again?”

“How about dealing with the pain head-on. Talk toa counselor.”

He shakes his head. “Been there, done that. Itdoesn’t work.”

“Then... talk to me?” I bite my bottom lip.

Varen narrows his eyes on me. “You want me to tellyou my deepest, darkest issues? Sure you can handle it?”

I bob. “Yeah. No judgment. Just a listening earand a shoulder to cry on. You can come to my room at night and talk until youfall asleep.”

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