Page 27 of Meant for Me
“There’s no way he knew.” Zoey shook her bangs out of her eyes, smiled. “We’re close—he’d have mentioned it.”
Amelia snorted. “Sometimes you don’t know people as well as you think you do.”
Maybe. But not Linc…
She frowned. Right?
Linc and Ms. Bridges came back into the living room, the tour concluded.
“Well, I’ll be off.” Ms. Bridges rattled off more comments about being in touch with next steps, then leaned over to hug Amelia, who stiffly allowed the brief embrace. “You know how to reach me, Amelia, if you need anything.” She handed Linc her card, her earlier weightiness seemingly gone now that a plan was in place. “Have a good night, everyone.”
And then there were three.
Zoey held her breath. Linc stood with his back to the room, staring at the front door, as if a part of him beseeched Ms. Bridges to come back. Amelia stared at him, eyes narrowed, fiddling with the zipper on her bag.
Someone had to do something. Zoey hopped up. “I think we should go shopping.”
“I told you, I don’t need chips that bad.” Amelia flipped her hair over her shoulder.
“Not for chips—for bedding.” She grinned. “We could get your room fixed up.”
The teen frowned. “I’m not moving in forever. Seems like a waste of money.”
Linc finally turned around. “We actually don’t know how long this will be.” He met Amelia’s gaze head-on, to his credit.
She met the challenge. “I don’t have to be here at all. I can take care of myself—I did every other time Mom bounced.”
Other times? Zoey’s heart twisted. She stepped between Linc and Amelia. “And I’m sure you did a great job—you’re in one piece. But this time, you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to help.”
“Who even are you?” Amelia scowled. “You’re just, like, here.”
Zoey widened her eyes, risked a glance at Linc. Great,nowhe was starting to smile. She looked back at Amelia. “I told you—I’m Linc’s friend.”
“Ah.Friend.” Amelia air-quoted. “My mom had a bunch of those.”
Dunkin’ donuts. Zoey let out a quick breath. “It’s not like that. I’m just staying in the other guest room until I can get my own apartment again.”
“Uh-huh.” Amelia folded her arms over her chest, pinned Linc with her stare. “Guess you’re just a shelter for all kinds of strays, then.”
Linc’s smile vanished. He grabbed his keys from the end table by the door. “Let’s go find you some unicorn sheets or something.”
Amelia reluctantly stood. “I obviously made the wrong decision coming here if you think I want unicorn sheets.”
Linc’s brow furrowed. “Why not? You’re a girl.”
“Who is almost fourteen, not six.”
His scowl deepened. “Then keep the blue ones already on the bed in there. Those mature enough for you?”
“Unicorns are out, Linc.” Zoey stood by Amelia, hoping she’d see they could be a team. “What’s in, Amelia? What’s the vibe?”
“Adults trying to talk Gen Z slang definitely isn’t,” she muttered.
Right. Zoey let that one bounce off her back, found her smile. “You know what? I’ll make a list before we go. You’ll need toiletries, bedding. Maybe a lamp?” She started typing entries into the Notes app on her phone. “Oh, and a mirror!”
The sun might be setting outside, but Zoey could be—would be—sunshine for everyone.
Maybe there was a reason all of this—the fire, her homelessness—had happened after all. Maybe she didn’t really need anyone to take care of her.
