a

ant she noticed everythin

er and when it was borrowed. She knew the difference between being late because of traffic and being la

in without being asked and asked if w

hing," she sai

he'd already had enough

fuel light was on and because changing routines felt dangerous lately. Predictability was sa

pavement. Lily leaned forward in her se

shies," she said.

I said. "Stay wh

the door, ponytail bouncing, crown

ard into the p

hen I heard t

nmistakable. The sound vibrated in my chest befo

wasn't in a hurry and didn't need to be. Black. Matte. Scarre

engine and swung off

air pulled back at the nape of his neck. He moved like someone who

ed away i

didn't belong any

ing to the grocery list, to the bills waiting on the table, to wh

s voice cut t

"Mo

tur

small body stiff, eyes fixed on something behind

er was wat

he was aware of her in a way that felt deliberate. Like h

pike of protectiven

etween them wi

softly to Lily. "I

t back toward the slushie machine, ca

man did

dn't smi

, and reached for the nozzle. Up close, I noticed the scars on his hands. O

t my eye

ilence s

sually take thi

pine st

ked. His eyes were dark. Steady. No

ze exits came with

is mouth twitche

hy commen

s on," he added. "Didn'

, not trusting m

the receipt, my movements precise, controlled. I could fe

then, clutching a blue

sprinkles," s

get a stra

ded enthus

gain, and something in his posture

olor," he said to h

med. "It's

on her shoulder, gr

done her

another sip, already

ng back just enough to give us

had fluttered to the

't need i

t up anyway, holding it

you change

ng would have required more

anks,"

ded. "Dri

er in, and got behind the wheel. My hand

away, I check

ed under his arm, watching the road like he was

yself it me

etter than the red one because it tasted like summer. I listened, res

ted mail at the table. A bill slipped fr

it up before I

owning at the paper. "Is

er gently. "It's ju

at made sense, then w

ng dishes I didn't remember dirtying. The image of the bi

y he'd no

stepped back wit

like he was cataloging some

want to thin

life small. Qui

bled past on the road. I

ght, moving down the hallway toward my be

taken today ha

dn't take