Page 28

–Thank You Scientist

“TomSawyer”plays so loudly throughout the house thatIcan barely think about the dough in my hands.Idon’t want to think, though—Ijust want todoandbe.

Momwas right;Timelessis headlining a festival in a couple of weeks.

Partof me is stoked for a festival sinceIhaven’t attended one in ages whenI’mused to going to one every other month.

Theother part of me is internally screaming.

Notonly doIhave to learn newTimelesssongs, butRobbieis out of the band andIhave to play next toZak,Shannon, andAdrian.

Oh, and haveImentioned one of the songsIhave to learn and play is about me breakingZak’sheart?

AllIwant is to make homemade biscuits and be happy thatIget to have a nice family dinner with my brother and his girlfriend.Evenif she hates my guts for being the other woman to her new best friend.

Aknock sounds at the front door, and it creaks open.Anorange glow spreads across the tile floor, letting in some of the evening sun. “Specialdelivery!”

Adrianappears with a bright smile.Hesets a plastic cake case down on the counter, a white icing thing topped with bright, glistening fruit—tres leches. “Oh, sorry, amIinterrupting dinner?”

“Notyet,”Momsays.

Dademerges from the hallway, givingAdrianthe stink eye until he sees the cake.

Irecognize the sweet tooth monster’s twinkle in his eyes as his tongue darts out to swipe across his bottom lip.

Adrianis too focused on me andDadknows it.Hebrings a finger to his lips, silently telling me to keep quiet before peeling the plastic top off the cake.

Luckyfor him, the sound ofRushswallows the deed.

Adrianbarely spares him a second of his attention, soDadplucks a strawberry from the top and licks the cream off his fingers.

Isnort asImeetAdrian’sstare.Thegears in his head are visibly turning, like he’s calculating if he can squeeze by my parents to kiss me, how they would react—howIwould react.

Hisgaze drops to my chest, seeingToolacross my tank top, and he shakes his head with a widened smirk.

Isend a sprinkle of flour over the counter in his direction. “Eitherhelp or git.”

Beforehe has the chance to tell me his unoriginal thoughts on how pretentious it is to be aToolfan, the front door opens again and a voice yells, “Mama,I’mhome!”

Myeyes widen.

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Brandyappears in the kitchen first, stopping in her tracks when she lays eyes onAdrian.

Robbieruns into her and grabs her elbow. “Sorry, babe.”

Then, he glances up.

Aharsh scowl overcomes the excitement on his face, baby blues searing with annoyance. “Fuck’reyou doin’ here?”

“Robbie,”Momchides.

“Whothe hell invited him?”Robbie’sglare sets in on me. “Iknow y’all got a thing goin’ on, but now ain’t the time.”

Myjaw drops, butAdriancuts in beforeIhave a chance to pipe up.