“Sorry,” he apologized before tossing me a wink.
Covering my mouth, I tried to hide my smile. I watched until he was out of sight then turned back to my locker, but I paused because Till was still standing next to me.
I wasn’t sure why he was lingering. Closing my locker, I opened my mouth to say something, but he beat me to it.
“Doodle,” he said in greeting and dismissal.
My jaw dropped open as he sauntered away.
Three years. Three long years, and the first time he’d ever spoken to me at school, all I’d gotten was the stupid nickname I fucking loved so much that I couldn’t even be mad.
Six months later . . .
“HEY, MRS. NOELLE. CAN I borrow your phone?” I asked the crotchety old lady who lived next door.
“Again?” she grumbled, handing me the portable phone through the crack in the door.
“Sorry.” I began dialing the number to my mom’s friend, Tracie. She had a cell phone, and even though she was a total bitch, I was hoping she would be able to help me out.
“Tracie. Hey, it’s Till. Do you know where my mom is?” I asked as soon as she picked up.
“Jesus, Till. Stop callin’ and wastin’ my minutes. Is your broke ass gonna pay my bill when I go over? I don’t think so. I have no clue where the hell your mom is. Stop callin’.” She hung up just as quickly as she’d answered.
“Shit.” I cursed under my breath, handing the phone back to Mrs. Noelle.
“You’re welcome!” she shouted as I headed back to my parents’ apartment.
“Yeah, thanks,” I responded absently.
I walked back inside and began pacing the den. Eliza was waiting for me. I knew she was. Her boyfriend, Daniel Bennett, had a midnight curfew, so he always dropped her off around eleven thirty. It was bad enough I had to share her with him, but since my mom’s trip to buy cigarettes had turned into a six-hour-long excursion, there was a good chance I was going to miss her entire birthday.
I was stuck only two buildings away, babysitting my brothers. Flint was eleven. He probably would have been fine sleeping alone in the apartment, but Quarry was only six. I couldn’t just leave.
“Shit!” I shouted, pulling my beanie off and throwing it onto the couch. “Tonight of all fucking nights!” I began to rant to myself.
“Till?”
I heard Quarry as he walked out of his bedroom, fully dressed in dirty clothes. As far as I knew, the kid only owned two pair of jeans. Forget about pajamas.
“It’s all good, buddy. Go back to bed.”
“Mom’s still not back?” he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
“No, but it’s okay. Just go back to sleep.” I ruffled his thick, black hair.
“Don’t you have a date?”
“Something like that.”
It was the biggest understatement of the year. It wasn’t something like that. It’s Eliza. It was bigger than a date. I’d spent fucking weeks saving up to buy her a present. Now, I couldn’t even give it to her on her actual birthday.
I rolled my bottom lip with my fingers and debated what to do. Mom would show up eventually, but I was sure it wouldn’t be until the morning. God only knew where the hell my dad was. He was even more worthless than she was. I had never missed a night with Eliza, and I sure as hell wasn’t about to start on her birthday.
“Hey, Quarry. Put on some shoes. Take a walk with me real quick.”
“Okay!” he said excitedly, making me laugh for the first time in hours.
I went to the boys’ room and nudged Flint. “Hey, I’m taking Q and going for a walk. You gonna be okay for a few minutes alone?”
“Yeah,” he grumbled, rolling over and falling immediately back asleep.
I opened the hall closet and pulled out the vase I’d stashed in the back.
“Ready!” Quarry exclaimed.
I ran my eyes over his dirty shirt and shook my head. “Let’s go.” I headed out the door with him hot on my heels.
He talked nonstop as we weaved through the buildings. “Hey, where we goin’? Did you make those flowers? Is that for your girlfriend? Do you even have a girlfriend? What’s her name? Can I meet her?”
“Jesus! Quarry, shut it!” I growled, but he quieted for only a minute.
“Does she live here?” he whispered, and I gave him a frustrated glare that only made him smile and shrug.
When we got to the apartment, I could see the light peeking out of the window. She is in there.
My heart began to race—just like it did every time before I saw her.
“Stay here,” I said to Quarry as I started to approach the window, but I heard his footsteps following me. I quickly turned to face him. “What are you doing? I said to stay on the sidewalk.”
“It’s dark!” he whined as an answer.
“You can’t go with me. Just . . . Stay. Here,” I continued toward the window, and Quarry once again moved with me. “Stop following me!” I whisper-yelled.
“It’s really dark, Till!” he whisper-yelled right back.
I let out a huff. “Then go stand in that breezeway under the light.” I pointed to the building next door.