Page 103 of The ABCs of You & Me

“Go on.”

“Well, they can’t add milk because that means it’s not dairy-free.”

“Correct.”

“Goat milk?”

“Have you had goat milk?”

“Yeah, I don’t like it.”

“Okay, so do you like nut milk?”

He nods.

“Well, then they probably don’t make nut milk with goat milk.”

“That’s true. Water?”

“I think so. I’ve never thought about it before.”

“Hey, Mr. Walsh?”

I roll my eyes as I look down at him. “Yes, Pete?”

“Race ya!” He spins and starts hustling back the way we came, his signature cackle trailing behind him.

“Huh, I’ve never actually thought about how they make nut milk,” Sophie says, pulling out her phone and typing. “Basically blended nuts with water. Not nearly as fun as I thought it would be.”

“Fun?” I ask, glancing over in time to see her shrug.

“Probably the wrong word. Speaking of fun, are you ready to have some today?”

There is a higher probability that fun will be had today than at a usual gathering that includes my family simply because Cass and Sophie will be there with me. “I’m cautiously optimistic about fun.”

“That’s better than dread.” She smiles at me, and I have to squeeze the wheel to avoid leaning over and kissing her. “So, um, about last night.” My heart stutters at what she might say. It was a mistake? It can’t happen again? It was nice but… “You said some things that shocked me.”

Oh my god, what came out of my mouth? I glare at the road, trying to recall what I could have said that would shock her. “In a bad way?”

“Oh god no,” she says. “I likeeverythingyou did with your mouth. It hit me this morning that you cursed. Like you said”—she leans in and whispers—“fuck.”

“Did I?”

“Oh yeah, a few times, in fact.”

“I don’t remember that.” I remember her noises, her smell and the feel of her, the way she tasted, and that’s about it.

“I can remind you next time.”Next time. All my fears disappear as I repeat those two words to myself.

FORTY-SIX

SOPHIE

Foster’s uncle is droning on about some new boat accessory he got for some amazing deal when we walk into Marley and Bennett’s place. Everything about that man in this house is wrong, and I tighten my grip in Foster’s.

“Would you look at that? Still putting up with him, eh?” he goads. “Guess I owe Marcus twenty.”

I lean closer to Foster, my other hand automatically wrapping around his upper arm as I gaze up at him. “It’s him that has to put up with me.”

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