Page 41 of Between Us

My dad leans across the desk and affectionately squeezes my shoulder. “I’m very proud of you, honey. She may not know how to show it, but I know it meant a lot to Polly that she didn’t have to be alone today.”

I know he’s right, and I like the confirmation that I was able to help in a significant way today.

Adrian just watches me with a growing smile, his eyes taking in every detail of my face, and I can tell he’s contemplating something, I just don’t know what.

“What?” I finally snap. My dad chuckles again, and for the first time in my life, that sound is getting a little annoying.

Okay, no. Not annoying. Just overwhelming.

“Do you have plans tonight?” Adrian retorts. I glance at my dad, feeling my cheeks warm. I shake my head, not trusting my voice to come out strong. “Will you go to dinner with me?” His smile is shy and tentative, but he doesn’t cower from either of our gazes.

“Oh, um.” I glance around, feeling a million pairs of eyes on me even though we’re the only three people in the room right now. Clearing my throat, I add, “Yeah, dinner sounds great.”

“Can’t wait.” He taps the arm of the chair and starts to push off. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

Before I can process what just happened, he’s pushing through the double doors to the back hallway. And maybe I’m imagining it, but there’s a small swagger to his step that wasn’t there before.

Chapter Twenty

Adrian

Ishovemyhandsinto the pocket of mySpace Jamhoodie and hop up the stairs leading to the Millers’ front door. I’m a little worried that Blake’s going to put a lot of effort into her appearance when I’m taking her to the smallest hole in the wall in all of California. And truthfully, I’d be happiest if she just wore one of her little tennis skirts and crewneck combos, like she did when we got her tires fixed last week. But the evenings have started to get cooler recently, so I doubt it.

Taking a deep breath, I quickly knock three times and take a small step backwards.

Blake has this idea of me in her head—always calm, always collected, always confident. I love that she sees me as a solid force because that’s what I want to be for her, but I’m only human.

She makes me nervous—that good, butterflies in the stomach, heart stops when I see her type of nervousness.

All I want is to impress Blake, get her attention, and never lose it. It’s only been a few weeks, yet I can confidently say that I want her around me all the time. Not only is she cute as fuck and has the snarkiest mouth I’ve ever heard, those rare vulnerable moments that I have to gently pull out of her, always feel like a victory.

The door pulls open, revealing a pair of lightning gray eyes that are the twins to the ones that have been taking up residence in my mind. Selena. “Adrian.Pasa pasa,” she waves me forward with a warm smile. As I step through the threshold of the Miller home, she closes the door before patting my back in greeting. “It’s so nice to see you.”

“You too, Selena.” As I follow her further into the house, I ask how the school year is going—she’s a librarian—and take in their house for the second time.

Their home is warm and quaint. Even though I have a pretty good idea that Tim makes much more than what his lifestyle would suggest, and Blake has shyly mumbled the word inheritance once or twice, there’s just so much love. It’s like a comforting hug as soon as you step within the threshold. A variety of knitted blankets—most likely made by Blake—are spread across the couch and tucked into baskets. There’s likely enough for more people than could actually fit in the house. Just like the last time I was here, I can smell a variety of spices in the air and the low tunes of a Mexican folk song in the background.

“Blake should be down soon,” Selena tells me. “She stayed late to help Tim at the clinic. I think she feels bad about sleeping in this morning.”

“She said Tim offered to let her come in later though.”

She nods and points toward the stool on the other side of the island. “He did but…” seeming at a loss for words, she shrugs and says, “that’s just Blake. Should I go check on her?”

I quickly shake my head. “No, that’s okay. I don’t want to rush her.” I rub the back of my neck as I feel the blood rush to my cheeks. “I’m a few minutes early actually.”

Selena looks up from the bread she’s kneading and assesses me for a few seconds before a small smile of approval pulls on her lips. “Blake doesn’t like to be kept waiting. She gets her impatience from me.”

Chuckling, I drum my fingers on my thighs and bob my head. “Yeah, yeah. I’ve definitely noticed, but I don’t mind. I’d shift my whole day around if it meant spending time with her.”

This time, her hands pause in the dough when she looks up with an appreciative smile. “I’m happy you moved to town, Adrian.”

“I am too.” Surprisingly, it’s the truth. I’ve been to almost every state, and a few different countries, although I hadn’t spent a lot of time in San Diego growing up. We only ever stopped here when we drove from my hometown, Bakersfield, down to a small town where my mom and godmother are from.

I hadn’t been sure how I felt going into the school year. And I can’t explain it, but it feels like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.

Selena slides a plate of sweet, shredded coconut balls toward me; she calls itcocada. Falling into silence for a couple of minutes, it’s neither uncomfortable nor inconvenient, just feels normal. In some ways, it offers the same comfort as sitting in the kitchen with my mom and godmother growing up.

The sound of socks shuffling across the wood floor has me perking up like a sad puppy left at home.

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