Page 7 of This Thing Between Us

“Mom never lets me do that,” I said under my breath.

But unlike the other parents, the girl’s mom didn’t get out of the car and bring her to the classroom. Instead, she drove off in a hurry, the car screeching as she did so. Pigtails just stood there, looking at the car as it peeled out of the parking lot. Then she looked around, staring at the other students who were being dropped off, each by at least one of their parents.

My tummy got upset. I didn’t understand why she just stood there, looking around. Maybe she didn’t know where to go.

After a few more moments of watching her, I saw the tears running down her cheeks. I ran towards her as fast as I could before stopping right in front of her. Her hand covered her face, so I lifted mine up to move it.

She backed away from me. “What are you doing?”

I lifted my hands. “I wanted to help you get inside.” I pointed to the classroom where other students were getting kisses and saying their goodbyes.

Her eyes narrowed.

“I’m Jack.” I held out my hand. It was something I’d seen my father do at work.

She stared at my outstretched hand for a second before deciding I was safe to touch.

“I’m Whitney,” pigtails said as she put her hand in mine.

My face warmed. This was the first time I held a girl’s hand. I prayed she couldn’t tell.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to our teacher, Mrs. Fitzgerald. She’s really nice.”

After a pause, Whitney nodded and turned towards the classroom.

We walked together side by side. I tried to look over at her without her noticing and saw that Whitney’s eyes were no longer filled with tears.

Chapter 4

Whitney

I huggedmy sister like she was a lifeline.

She hugged me back with equal vigor.

Then she pinched me.

“What the hell took you so long? Dinner is getting cold.” Savannah ushered me inside the house before closing the door. I tried and failed to block her view.

Savannah whistled. “I see you’ve run into Jack. How was that?” She wiggled her eyebrows up and down suggestively. As my sister and best friend, Savannah happened to be the only person in the world who knew how I felt about Jack growing up. She knew he was the reason I left Haver’s Creek and although she didn’t like that he drove me away for good, or almost for good, I had a not so sneaking suspicion she wished I would just tell him my feelings already, consequences be damned.

“Hate to break it to you, but it wasn’t great.” I tossed off my shoes and dropped my belongings on the ground. I’d unpack later. First, I needed food and a sparkling water.

Basically, I needed to fortify myself before breaking the news to Savannah about our mother.

The last thing she needed was another headache, but this small town couldn’t keep a secret to save its life. It was perfectly plausible that someone had already called to tell her about the accident.

That said, she stared at me, hands on hips, her lips pursed. “Be truthful about Jack. You come waltzing in here after having not seen the man in ten years.” Savannah approached me like I was a skittish kitten, just waiting to run away. She stopped just short of me, her hands on my shoulders, her expression serious. “What are you feeling?”

My stomach growled.

We laughed together in stereo.

Savannah threw her hands in the air. “Fine, food first. Got it.” She shook her head. “Saved by the stomach.”

My sister crossed the small expanse of her family room to head to the kitchen. The space wasn’t big, but it was open and cozy. Warm yellow walls and cream curtains made for a happy cottage vibe. It matched her sunny disposition. Where my hair was dark, hers was light. I always was the more serious of the two of us. I always had to be.

My mind was reeling from the last hour. Seeing my mother and Jack in such a short timespan confused the hell out of me. As if it weren’t real. My brain was catching up to my body.

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