Page 12 of The Significance of Moving On

We fall into this comfortableness during the drive home. Kelsey has come here with me numerous times, for numerous vacations over the years, only she always stayed with me at Tom’s. Her eyes grow wide when we turn into the driveway directly across the street. Kels looks like she’s about to cry which I completely understand because my brother was pretty important to her, too. Although her parents are still married, her home life is pretty well screwed up. With Tom, she could just be herself.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

“I know. Me, too.”

“We need some fun,” Casey says, slapping the steering wheel energetically, startling us both. But it’s his glassy eyes peering at us through the rearview mirror that give his emotions away. “How ‘bout a movie? A comedy.”

A comedy sounds like the best idea in the world right now. Casey rolls Kelsey’s bags into the house as we follow behind. He stops short and we crash into his backside. There’s a man sitting on the sofa. “What’s all this?” the man asks.

“Hey, brother… I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Guess not.” The man eyes me and Kelsey.

“Tally, this is my brother, Demetrius.” And that’s when I see it in his eyes. He’s the dark boy from the picture of Casey and Luke as kids.

I reach out to shake his hand. He’s tentative but grabs mine back.

“She’s my roommate,” Casey goes on. “And this is her friend, Kelsey. Just got here from—”

“Florida,” Kelsey says, holding out her hand, too, flipping her luscious mane of hair behind her shoulder in that flirtatious way she perfected back in seventh grade.

“Timed my visit, didn’t I?” Demetrius says.

“That depends. Let me drop our underage houseguest’s luggage in my off-limit roommate’s room.”

Off-limit? Why would he call me that? Is it because I’m broken? I mean, I’m totally not ready to date anybody. No… of course I’m not. He’s not interested in me that way, like I’m not interested in him that way. I only curled my hair and wore a little make up because we were going to get Kels.Tom hasn’t even been gone a month, Chantal.

Casey’s protective of me, end of story. As that’s now settled, I plop down on the sofa next to Demetrius like nothing is remotely off. Kelsey sits in Casey’s recliner.

“How’dyouend up as the C-man’s roommate?” Demetrius asks.

“He hasn’t had time to talk to you then?”

He shakes his head.

“Well, I’m a stray. My brother lived across the street, he…well, he just died.” Way to kill the atmosphere there. Demetrius looks ready to bolt.

And he doesn’t say another word to me, but Kelsey might as well be a plate of fried chicken for the way he licks his lips; stare heavy enough that I’d swear he can see right through her. She gives him the sexy eye back. Demetrius, yes, totally the kind of guy Kels goes for, which happens to be any kind Daddy wouldn’t approve of.

“How long you staying?” he asks her.

Casey steps out of my room right on cue as if a director just called action. “For a week, until the end of summer, until her parents want her back, that’s between her and Tally.”

My heart speeds with admiration, appreciation, I don’t know, there must be some more A words to describe this feeling.

“How you handling roommates?” Demetrius asks Casey. “Female at that.”

“I like the company,” he answers. He leans his body against the door frame and crosses his arms over his chest. Casey usually comes off as this relaxed, easy-going type of guy but the way he holds his muscles tight, even though his face remains calm, there’s something more to this. What I can’t pinpoint yet is whether he doesn’t like his decisions questioned in general or by this guy specifically.

Because seriously, he likes the company? I’ve wavered between a slow radiation leak to a full-blown nuclear meltdown the entire time he’s known me.I’m going to figure you out, CaseyDavenport.Come hell or high water, I’m going to figure him out.

“You didn’t want me to move in,” Demetrius says.

“Okay, I likehercompany.” Casey darts his eyes to look at me.

“I bet you do—so, Kelsey,” Demetrius cuts himself off. “How underage are you?”

“I’m eighteen in September.”

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