He laughs. “Watch. I’ll get real food after I cash my first paycheck.”
Shane teases me about the way I flinch at night noises and jump at shadows. Before I know it, we’re outside my house. The lights are all off; Aunt Gabby’s car is parked out front, but since she went to Rudolfo’s with Joe, that doesn’t mean anything. I let us in and slide the bolt behind us; I lived in scary places too long to feel safe with the doors unlocked, even in a town like this. I go around flipping on lights, not just because of the movie. As I look out, the drizzle turns into a downpour, rain coming down in sheets that I see rippling in the wind.
Shane looks around, admiring pictures of my aunt and me while I go into the kitchen. I don’t ask if he’s hungry. I just start making grilled cheeses. And these aren’t ordinary sandwiches; I use sourdough bread, butter, and three kinds of cheese. While those are in the pan, I also open a can of tomato soup and start stirring, so it’ll be ready around the same time. By the time he realizes I’m making food, it’s pretty much done. I set the table for two, not wanting to deal with the stress of eating on the sofa. There’s a zero percent chance that doesn’t end with my shirt covered in red splotches.
“This is so good,” he says, after the first bite.
No point in false modesty. “I do make a mean grilled cheese.”
“I was talking about being here with you.”
I have no idea what to say, but I feel heat creeping into my cheeks. Fortunately—or unfortunately—depending on your point of view, my phone rings. It’s my aunt checking in, so I have to take it. I hold up a hand at Shane, motioning him to silence.
“How are things?” I ask Gabby.
“Good. But it’s raining pretty hard and Joe’s worried about the drive back.” My aunt’s never indicated she wanted to stay out all night before, so this feels oddly like she’s asking my permission. The weather is an excuse.
“Don’t take any chances,” I tell her. “It’s bad here, too.”
“Are you sure you won’t be scared?”
I glance at Shane. “No, I’m fine. I’m home already. The movie was fun.”
It’s not lying if she doesn’t ask, right?
“Okay, Sage. Make sure you lock up and check all the doors and windows. I won’t make a habit of this, I promise.”
It’s okay, I think. You deserve a life.
“I’m fine,” I repeat. “Have fun. I expect all the hot, sweaty details tomorrow.”
This is a safe joke because I know Aunt Gabby will never open her bedroom door to me. Proving me right, she makes a horrified noise, and I laugh, disconnecting the call. Shane has paused, waiting for me before he continues eating. This strikes me as incredibly polite.
He gives me a questioning look as we go on with our meal. “You’re on your own tonight?”
“Apparently,” I answer. “Do you want another sandwich or more soup?”
“If it’s no trouble.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I’m glad he’s not complaining anymore about how I feed him like a stray dog. That’s not it at all; I just can’t stand anyone going hungry, mostly because I had my share of it, growing up. Shane’s not a helpless kid like I was, but I can’t change how I respond to his situation. Efficiently, I fry another grilled cheese and pour the rest of the tomato soup into his cup.
“At school, you said you lived in a bad area before.” It’s not a question.
I get that he deserves to know more about me, but I can’t spill everything. Not yet. The whole truth will probably change how he sees me. But … this is the first time I’ve wanted to let anyone else all the way in—and it’s fairly terrifying.
So I nod. “Before I moved here, I lived in a scary part of Chicago with my mother.”
“Where is she now?” he asks.