He wipes his hands on a rag from his pocket. Eli’s wavy hair brushes his collar under a trucker cap. Right now he’s looking at me like I’m the last person he’d like to see in his yard.
He frowns at Scarlett. “Where’s your car?”
“It died at the arena. Brendan was just being helpful.”
Eli shoves the rag back into his pocket. “I would’ve picked you up.”
“He saved you the trip,” Scarlett says pointedly. “The least you could do is thank him.”
Eli looks like thanking me ranks just below getting kicked in the nuts. “Just never thought you two would be sofriendlyagain. You know, considering everything that happened.” His eyes meet mine, and there’s no humor in them.
We both know he’s referring to that night years ago when everything went sideways between us. I know Scarlett told him about what happened at the beach. But what she doesn’t realize is that I looked for her that night. At the hospital, in the waiting room, everywhere. And she wasn’t there.
My sister was in a terrible car wreck, and we didn’t know if she’d even make it. And Scarlett didn’t even bother to show up.
I told myself it didn’t matter—that she was just a girl I’d kissed once. I had bigger things to worry about with Carmen in surgery, not knowing if she’d wake up.
But it mattered more than I realized. She basically abandoned me when my life was imploding, and there’s no getting over that.
“What do you want?” Eli asks his sister. “For me to pretend to like him after what he did?”
My internal temperature rises. “WhatIdid?” I scoff, shaking my head.
What about whatScarlett did to me?
I shut that thought down. It’s old history I can’t bring up in front of Eli. Right now, I need her on my side.
Scarlett steps between us, frowning. “Okay, what is happening right now?”
Eli lets out a humorless laugh. “Why don’t you ask yourboyfriendabout that.” His eyes slide to mine.
She steps up to her brother. “Eli, you’re going to have to accept the fact that we’re dating. And if you can’t, then this will continue to be painfully awkward for everyone involved.”
“What do you mean? This isn’t awkward at all,” Eli shoots back.
Scarlett rolls her eyes. “I’m going upstairs,” she calls over her shoulder. “I have laundry to do and a tuba player to avoid.”
“I’ll walk you up.” I follow her toward the porch steps.
“Really not necessary.” She stops at the front door.
Eli watches us with narrowed eyes and I remember that the only thing that matters now is our agreement.
“Scarlett.” I lower my voice as she digs through her enormous bag. “We should probably act more like…”
She turns around to face me, keys finally in hand. “What?”
“Do I need to spell it out?” I nod subtly toward Eli, trying to be inconspicuous. “Your brother is watching us.”
Her gaze flicks over my shoulder where Eli is pretending to examine a smudge on Mona’s back bumper.
“He’s not watching. And honestly, I have a headache right now.”
“Hey, Scarlett,” Eli calls, walking around to the porch stairs. “Everything alright between you and Marco here?”
He looks between us like he suspects something’s off.
Scarlett gives her brother a tight smile. “We’re perfectly fine. Just couldn’t locate my keys.” She jingles them in the air as evidence.