Page 32 of This Kind of Forever

Hallie grins. “Abbie was giving you a run for your money this morning, huh?”

I sigh, rubbing at my jaw. “My mom says it’s payback for how I was as a kid.”

“You did cause your fair share of trouble.” Her eyes cut to Connor. “Both of you did. I still have nightmares about those worms you put in Clara’s bed that one summer.”

Connor throws his hands up in surrender. “Hey, I’m innocent. That was all Gabe’s idea.”

I snort.Innocentand Connordon’t even belong in the same vicinity, let alone the same sentence.

Hallie glances at the clock on the wall. “I should head out now. Carole wants me at the gallery.”

I step forward. “I’ll walk you out.”

It’s not necessary—the station is only so big, and this isn’t the first time Hallie has been here. Still, once she waves goodbye to Connor, I take the opportunity to set a hand on the small of her back and guide her through the building to the lobby.

When we make it to the front door, she turns to me. “About earlier…” Her cheeks turn pink. “I’m sorry if I made things awkward. I didn’t mean— I shouldn’t have?—”

I take her fidgeting hands in mine, and she abruptly stops speaking. “It’s okay,” I assure her. “We’re good. No awkwardness here.”

She searches my gaze. “You’re sure?”

I reluctantly release her hands. I stuff my own into my pockets so I don’t take hold of them again. “Positive. I’m an adult. I can handle a little bare skin.”

Or a lot.

I force the memory of her in that towel out of my brain. I file it away with all the other things I shouldn’t be thinking about when it comes to Hallie.

Friends. We’re friends.

She looks poised to argue, but footsteps from behind me stop her short.

“Hey, Hallie,” Luke says. “How’s it going?”

“Hi.” Her cheeks are still flushed in embarrassment, but she hides the emotion well, pasting on a smile. “Your brother left his phone at home. I was just dropping it off.”

His eyes slide to me, then back to her. “That’s nice of you. Good thing he has you around to keep him organized, eh?”

I try to ignore the way that comment makes me feel. I’m sure Luke doesn’t mean anything by it, but it irks me all the same.

Hallie laughs nervously as she adjusts the strap of her purse on her shoulder. “I should get going, let you get back to work.” She waves. “Bye.”

“Wait,” I call out. “Did you?—?”

But she’s out the door in a flash, before I can even finish my sentence. Luke claps me on the back, then retreats to his office.

When I make my way back to the kitchen, the coffee is ready, and Connor is shaking his head. “You, my friend, are fucked.”

I don’t argue. I can’t.

THIRTEEN

HALLIE

Today,I’m finally meeting my father.

I probably should have called him when I inevitably decided to reach out, but me and phone calls are mortal enemies, so I chickened out and texted him instead. His response was almost immediate.

Hi, this is Hallie. I got your letter. I was wondering if you’d like to meet?