Page 34 of Glad You Exist

“So?” Dan raises his eyebrow at me.

Why can’t he drop this?

“He heard about mom.”

My brother grimaces, “So why is he texting you?”

Now it’s my turn to look amused as I turn to sit back down on the guest bed.

“He’s one of the kids I tutor. He’s just being nice.”

“He’s single. And gorgeous.” Kim announces from the couch.

Kyle narrows his eyes at her but then she whispers something to him that makes him grin.

Her mouth quirks up as Kyle leans back on the couch, arms outstretched behind his head. They were both excited about this for some reason.

“Did he ask you out?” My brother is somehow glowering at me now.

And right beside me, Brad’s mouth is pinched. His back is as straight as a rod.

Okay, well, this escalated quickly.

The tone in Dan’s voice catches Summer’s attention. She finally glances up at her boyfriend and scowls. “Leave Liz alone. She’s allowed to have friends.”

“Thank you, Summer. Take the older brother protective hat off, Dan. Like I’ve told you before. I don’t date the guys I tutor.”

I’m seriously getting annoyed by this conversation. This isn’t the place or time for it.

I stare my brother down and hope he gets the message. But he gets distracted by Summer as she continues to quietly chastise him.

That shut him up.

“Well, that’s a shame.” Kim admonishes. “You tutor a lot of hot guys.”

That doesn’t even constitute a reply, so I ignore it and go back to eating my burger.

Kim however is still really riveted by this.

As if she is trying to get a rise out of me or something.

“I wasn’t going to say anything but...” She exchanges looks with Kyle. “I think he likes you.”

Kyle snorts and winks at me, “Facts. Kid’s been carrying a torch for Liz since she helped him pass the tenth grade.”

I shrug as I ball up the wrapper, “That’s kinda my job.”

As I start to get up to toss my trash out, Brad stills me with his hand on my knee. He takes my plate and gets up wordlessly to the kitchenette. He tosses my plate into the trash along with his uneaten burger then he leans on the counter, a stoic look on his face and crosses his arms.

His face remains passive and unreadable as he stares at Kim.

He is in a mood today. What is his problem?

I work on slow, steady breaths so I don’t end up snapping at my selfless, caring friends who are sacrificing a Friday to keep me company.

Wait. It’s Friday.

“Hey, don’t you guys have a game to be at?”

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