Page 16 of Cross-Check

“Right? I’m so far from artistic it’s not even funny.”

“Yeah, me too. I honestly don’t think I’ve tried doing anything arts and crafts wise since elementary school.”

I bump his shoulder with mine. “Maybe we should try one of those sip and paint classes sometime.”

“Do you have a fake ID burning a hole in your pocket, beautiful?” he teases, making me laugh.

“I never said we should do it now. Just sometime.”

“Sure…” he drawls, shaking his head.

He opens his mouth to say something but stops himself.

“What were you about to say?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Come on, hotshot, don’t start keeping secrets from me now.”

He rubs his jaw. “I like that you are thinking about hanging out with me several years down the line. That’s all.”

“Yeah, I hate to break it to you, but once you’re in my circle, it takes a lot to get you out of it.”

“Oh really?”

“Yep, and if you ever try to leave, I’ll have to kill you,” I say solemnly.

Kellan tips his head back and laughs. “Damn, I had no idea that playing beer pong with you put my life on the line.”

“I mean, it is your fault.”

“Oh yeah? How so?”

I shrug. “You weren’t a douchebag.”

“Beautiful, if that’s all it took to become your friend, then we need to talk about your standards.”

“Hey, I never said that was the only reason. I just meant that’s what got you in. You’ve fully cemented yourself since you’ve been nice.”

He scoffs. “Nice. Ouch, talk about the kiss of death.”

“Oh please, we both know that’s not how I meant it,” I tease.

“Good to know.”

An alarm on my phone goes off, making me groan.

“You gotta go?”

“Yeah, that’s my alarm telling me I need to start walking over to where I’m volunteering.”

“You’re volunteering? Where at?”

“Over at the Department of Children and Families. There is a crisis with the number of workers compared to families needing intervention, so they started a new program that allows volunteers to help out in different areas of the system. I’m volunteering with their mediation program that supervises the visits between children and the family members who are attempting to regain custody. When I don’t have a visit, I’ve been spending time with the kids who are waiting on visits with other mediators. Mostly I keep them entertained or help them with homework.”

“Wait, really?” He looks shocked.

“Yeah.” I duck my head as I stand up.

---