Page 46 of Burning Daylight

“Oh my God, is it a girl?” my mom screeches.

My mouth ticks up, because that sounded likeMa, not the drugs. “Christ, you’re nosy. Mind your business.”

Her expression shifts, her eyes cutting to the door, then back to me, like she’s happy at the possibility of me actually having a girl here.

There’s a warm hand on my back, and electricity fires along my spine.

“It’s fine,Ry.”

Little Rose puts emphasis on my nickname, and I let go of my death grip on the handle, angling myself to face her.

It’s not fine, for a multitude of reasons, but I can’t tell her that. I can’t even explain my tumultuous emotions about her right now, because they don’t make any sense.

At least she doesn’t look at me like she’s three seconds away from killing me anymore.

She smiles and bites that lower lip, and then her hand covers the one of mine on the doorknob, and she swings it open the rest of the way, coming face to face with my mother.

The anxiety that was simmering explodes into panic, my stomach revolting until it feels like I might throw up, but I stand stoic.

I watch them both carefully, waiting for a spark of recognition to flare on either of their faces.

“Hi,” Little Rose says with a grin, reaching out her hand. “I’m?—”

“Honey, I really don’t care.”

My mom cuts her off without blinking.

Shit.

“Oh.” Little Rose’s palm drops. “Okay.”

She turns to me and gives me a small smile that doesn’t reach her eyes, and I’m torn between stopping her from leaving and letting her get away while she can.

Instead, I do nothing. Because clearly, I’m an idiot.

She moves to slide past me, smiling softly again at my mother, who ignores her entirely, and pushes by her, knocking her shoulder.Hard.

That propels me into motion, and I glare. “Jesus, Ma, watch out.”

She shrugs and moves into my apartment, making herself at home on my couch. And maybe it’s my imagination—wishfulthinking from that naive boy—but I could swear when her back is turned, I catch the faintest twitch of her mouth.

Like she’s secretly happy for me.

Jerking forward, I step outside, shutting the door behind me.

“Are you all right?” I ask, squinting from the sun blazing directly into my eyes.

Slowly, she spins to face me. “Yeah. You know, this is all probably for the best anyway.”

“It probably is,” I agree slowly.

I’m not sure if I mean that.

She purses her lips and then nods before turning to walk away again, and this uncontrollable urge to stop her rushes through me.

“Hey, wait up a second.” I jog after her.

She whirls back, her black hair whipping around her shoulder, defiance flashing across her gaze.