Page 55 of My Lucky Charm

I think about that Sunday dinner and wish I could have a do-over. Mick Hart is a huge fan, and I’d made a terrible impression.

I need to do better. I’m just not sure where to start.

“Probably doesn’t feel that way anymore,” I mutter as I sit down on a weight bench.

I lay back, telling myself to stop prodding Burke about Eloise’s family. I do a set of ten bench presses, then position the barbell back on the rack. “Do you know sign language?”

Burke and I trade places, but as he lays back for his set, his forehead pulls in a frown. “Why are you asking?”

“Just making conversation,” I say, spotting him for his set.

“Yeah, no you’re not. That’s not like you.” He puts the bar back then sits up and looks at me.

“I’m trying to do better. Don’t make it weird.” I half-laugh as we move over to the trap bars. We each load our bar with the right amount of weight and do a set.

“I’m learning,” he says. “It’s not easy. I mean, it’s a whole language.”

“Right.” I keep my eyes focused on a spot on the wall, trying not to think about the magnitude of that.

“But Poppy’s whole family knows ASL.” He grabs a bottle of water and shoots a stream in his mouth, then points it at me. “Including Eloise.”

My eyes jump to his. “Your point?”

“Just making conversation,” he says, wryly. “And these are things you could talk about with her.”

I frown. “We don’t really talk.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “She doesn’t talk?”

“Okay. Yeah. She’s a talker.”

“Yeah, I’d say.” Dallas laughs. “It’s usually hard to shut her up.”

I nod. That’s what I thought. So, it’s me.

Eloise talks to everyone, but she doesn’t talk to me. With me, she’s stand-offish.

I’m sure I sent her the message that’s the way I want it to be. I’m not sure how to undo that now.

Do I want to undo it? Is that what I’m thinking? If I am, then what the heck for?

As if talking about her summons her into existence, Eloise appears in the doorway. “Oh, hey guys, I thought I smelled something.”

Dallas whips a towel at her, and I get the dynamic right away.

Big brother, little sister.

I frown over at her. I can’t let on that seeing her unravels the knot in my stomach.

“What are you doing here on a Saturday?” Burke asks. “Don’t you have the day off?”

“I’m not sure . . .” She looks at me. “Do I?”

I shrug. “Ask Coach. You work for him, right?”

Her shoulders drop. “Ugh. You know about that?”

“He made it clear I have no authority to fire you, so yeah.”

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