Page 13 of Lucky Penny
Age 15, September Sophomore Year
Jesse strides toward me, his long arms ending in the pocket of his favorite black hoodie—the one I secretly wish was mine. His dark hair swoops across his forehead, and the gold flecks in his green eyes catch the fading light. He pushes his hair back and smirks at me, his dimples doing that thing to my heart again.
God, I hope he can’t tell how nervous he makes me.
“Hey!” I wave to him from across the grassy park. The streetlights flicker as the sun dips down, casting an artificial glow over the city park.
Magnolia Street Park has a beautiful name, but it’s nothing special. Just a small park directly between the historic neighborhood with mostly nice homes, including mine, and the other side of town. The side Nan tells me not to hang out in. The side Jesse lives on with his dad and stepmom. Over the last four years, it’s become our spot. Danny, Jesse, and I.
“You got my note.” I smile, and he nods. I slipped it into his locker after geometry with very detailed instructions. Jesse’s phone broke last week, and he can’t afford a new one, so we’ve returned to hand-scratched notes passed between classes. Something I find romantic, but I doubt he finds anything but bothersome.
I told him to meet me here, at our bench, at 9 p.m.—an hour after Nan leaves for the night shift at the hospital, late enough thatFia will be fast asleep and Danny too stoned in front of his TV to know what day it is, let alone notice I’m gone.
I wanted to see Jesse alone.
The bench bends a little as he sits next to me. He smells like body spray and stale cigarette smoke that’s not his.
I stare at the holes in his ripped black jeans, steadying myself for what I need to say.
“I brought you your favorite.” He slides a crinkled pack of Starbursts from his hoodie, and I smile. “Don’t worry, only the pink ones.” He uncurls his fingers and places six into my hand. My pulse kicks up as his fingers brush mine.
“Thanks.” I glance up quickly at him before popping the sweet taffy-like candy into my mouth to buy myself a few seconds.
What I have to say is good news…but it's uncomfortable. And really, it should be coming from Danny, too, except lately, he’s been totally checked out. I do everything for this family, even though my brother is technically ten minutes older.
Rubbing my palms on my legs, I shift my gaze to Jesse’s face. “So, obviously, I didn’t want to bring this up at school today, but we talked to Nan last night.”
What I don’t say is that I couldn’t wait another day to tell him. Not after he showed up to school with a black eye last week. Not with things getting worse at home for him.
Jesse’s hair falls over his eyebrows, but he doesn’t fix it. He peers down at the ground, and his knee begins to bounce lightly.
“Oh yeah?” he asks, wariness in his voice.
“She said you can stay with us,” I blurt out, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth before I can stop it. “As long as you want, of course.”
His head lifts, and a crooked grin spreads across his face.
“Shit, really, Penny?” Jesse exhales, barely. His shoulders ease just a little, and I can tell this means more than he’ll ever say. He always plays it cool—so annoyingly calm and composed, which makesit even more baffling that he’s best friends with my hothead brother, who once punched a wall over losing at Mario Kart.
“Nan said you just have to check with your parents.”
“They won’t care,” he says, holding back a smile, eyes still on the night sky. “They probably won’t even notice I’m gone. My stepmom will be fucking thrilled.”
He laughs, but I don’t.
I’d notice if he was gone.
I don’t understand how anyone could hurt him. Jesse is made of pure goodness. He’s thoughtful—like really thoughtful. He brought my Nan her favorite flowers on her birthday last year. And he’s super patient with my little sister. He’s always willing to help me whenever I need it, no questions asked. I don’t think Jesse has a mean bone in his body, which is ironic, considering his dad is the meanest man alive.
“Well…” I search for the right words to say. “It’s settled, you’ll move in this weekend? Nan says you can sleep in the guest room across from mine. It’s kinda tiny and the bed isn’t awesome but—”
His jaw ticks. “Trust me, it’s an upgrade from where I’ve been sleeping.”
I don’t ask; I’m not sure I can handle knowing. Danny and I have never seen the inside of Jesse’s house. He’s never invited us in, and we’ve never pushed.
“Sweet.” I slip another Starburst into my mouth. “So, see you in Spanish tomorrow?”
He stands and stretches. I follow suit, but standing next to him, I barely reach his shoulder.
