Page 33 of Rules for Rule Breaking
A sad smile washed over Winter’s face. “You mean Emmy and I made a billion dumplings. You made, like, four.”
Bobby glared. “I wanted them to be perfect.”
“Ours were as perfect as yours when they were in our stomachs,” she said, and it was then she caught Bobby’s gaze. “Did you hear any of that phone call?”
Bobby shook his head. “No, but my mom told me you were upset about Emmy not going to school with you in Boston. Do you want to talk about it?”
Winter put her head down. “I overheard you in your room. Doyouwant to talk about it?”
“No, we’re not supposed to anyway,” he replied, stiffening his jaw. “But before we don’t talk about anything, can I make an observation?”
Curiosity got the best of Winter. She gestured for him to continue.
“Since I’ve known Emmy,” Bobby began, “she’s always been the one who has had to come to North Carolina to see you. But have you ever tried meeting her halfway?”
Halfway to Germany was probably somewhere in Atlantis.
Winter’s face scrunched. “What are you going on about?”
“Our relationship has always been defined by our rules, rules that you suggested,” Bobby said, pointing an accusatory finger. “Do you think it’s possible you do the same thing with her? With... everyone, maybe? I get that you guys will be apart, and that sucks. I’m going to be miserable without Kai, but we’re going to be off on our own for the first time, so it’ll be up to both of us to put in equal effort if we’re going to stay friends. For you, it might just mean that you have to start pulling your weight a little more if you want to keep Emmy in your life.”
Pulling my weight?Winter thought. Her friendship with Emmy was nothing like her relationship with Bobby. Her first impulse was to get defensive, but maybe he had a point. It had never occurred to her she could have visited Emmy when she lived in Texas or when she briefly lived in Kansas. Winter was flummoxed. She was so flummoxed she was using words likeflummoxed. Was Bobby right? Now that Winter thought about it, she always chose the books for book club, they always met at Winter’s house, and Emmy always spent time with Halmeoni, but Winter never made as much effort with Nai Nai because of the language barrier. Emmy existed entirely in her world, but Winter had never even tried to venture into Emmy’s.
“You okay?” Bobby asked.
“Sorry, I’m fine,” Winter replied. “I’m just thinking about what you said.”
“Ignore me. I overstepped.”
“Yeah, let’s not do that again.”
“Say no more,” Bobby said with a nod. “Are you hungry? We can have dinner after I shower.”
“And go against the itinerary? It’ll be after six by the time you’redone,” Winter said sarcastically, trying to lighten the tone of their conversation. She gestured to her mug and tea biscuits. “I’m good for now. I have a snack, and I’m waiting for the stars to come out.”
“You’ll get eaten by mosquitoes.”
“I know. My blood brings all the boys to the yard.”
“The ones that bite are female.”
Winter mentally facepalmed. She was trying her best not to call him any of the hundreds of names that popped into her head. Why did he make it so hard to be nice to him?
“Wait here,” Bobby said, leaving her on the balcony alone.
“Welp,” she said to herself, popping her lips. She should have known better than to tell a joke. Bobby had a very selective sense of humor.
He returned holding a bottle of mouthwash. “Here. Put this on and the mosquitoes won’t bite you as much.”
“Is this a prank so I’ll go to dinner smelling like a minty Christmas tree?”
Bobby rolled his eyes. “It’s an old lifeguard trick. Remember Kai used to work at the pool?”
Winter remembered Kai being high at the pool all last summer and getting fired. She took the mouthwash and put a couple dabs of it on her arms and legs. She doubted the efficacy of the repellent, but she was willing to try almost anything.
“Thanks,” Winter said, trying to find the least awkward spot to place her gaze.
“So...” Bobby said as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Did you know it’s illegal to identify and then kill a Sasquatch in Washington, DC?”
