Page 40 of Never Quiet

“I know, right?” Her hand on Shawn’s shoulder, Amanda continued, “Shawn taught me how to disassemble and reassemble a handgun in under a minute but refuses to let me shoot without your permission, so please grant that while we’re here. Noel, work your magic and get me what I want.”

Then she ran at the pool and did a cannonball that drenched Davis waiting for her on the side.

When she surfaced, he growled, “You’re beastly.”

Once they started talking, there was no end in sight. It was an hour later when Heather walked daintily to the steps and into the pool.

Amanda and Davis swam over to her. He said, “I’ve been practicing but I’m not very fast and I keep forgetting because I never use it to reinforce what I’ve learned.” To her sister, he signed, “Do you like your new school?”

Heather nodded with wide eyes. “It’s pretty. We have a bird.”

They exchanged a few sentences and Amanda hugged her friend hard. “Davis. You’re learning to sign?”

“Of course. Signing is a huge part of your life. I’m not very good at it yet but I’ll practice with you.”

The three of them swam together until Heather got sleepy.

Amanda carried her out of the pool and laid her wet body in their dad’s lap. “I brought her pool bag in and put it in the first room down the hall to your left. She can recharge.”

“You’re an amazing big sister.”

She grinned. “She makes it easy to be amazing actually.” Returning to the pool, she and Davis floated on their backs for a long time.

After food and some socializing with the adults, they sat on the edge of the retaining wall overlooking Biscayne Bay. It was the house Shawn owned before he met Chaz and they kept it to travel back and forth between the training facility in the Keys and the company’s main office in Miami.

The view was gorgeous and she was glad to be back in Florida and back with people who meant so much to her.

Davis said, “We’ve known each other four years now.”

Eyes wide, she leaned her head on his shoulder. “Feels like forty. I’m so lucky to have you. Tell me everything about what you’re doing in Washington.”

They talked as the sun went down and the lights along the shore came to life. Boats moved over the water and the image was relaxing.

So much so, she didn’t immediately tense when Davis said quietly, “I need to tell you something.”

Inhaling deeply, she said softly, “That doesn’t sound good.” She already knew. Before he said the words, she knew.

“Erick has a girlfriend, Amanda. I wanted to tell you when it was just the two of us.” She nodded. “They’ve been dating for a couple of months. Some girl he met when he was home who also happens to go to U of M. It seems pretty serious.”

Pulling her feet up on the wall, she hugged her knees. For almost a minute, she didn’t say anything.

Finally, she told him, “I’m seventeen. He’s twenty. There’s a chance he’ll always see me as a kid.” Quietly, she added, “Maybe you can’t pick the love of your life at thirteen after all.”

“I’m sorry, Amanda. I wanted to tell you so it didn’t take you by surprise when we get to the Keys tomorrow.”

“Are you sure he’ll be there?”

“Yeah. He said something about meeting her family before he starts classes again in a few weeks.”

“Awesome.” Her heart hurt.

“Hey. You’re the smartest, kindest, and prettiest girl I know. I mean that. Erick is my best guy friend and he’s also smart, kind, and good-looking. Let time pass. See what happens.”

“It’s likely nothing will ever happen. Particularly not if they’re serious enough that he’s meeting her family. I mean, fuck.”

“You’re not a pessimist. Tomorrow, when you meet her, be yourself. Be gracious, funny, and interesting the way you always are. Keep your chin up and smile like you mean it.”

“I’ll do my best. Just don’t leave me alone, okay?”

“Never. I’m your ride or die.”

It was important to mentally prepare herself for the following day. Something told her she’d need all the calm, confidence, and class she’d learned from the women in her family…

When she met Erick Harding’s girlfriend.

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