Page 32 of Whatever It Takes

I shouldn’t be here,I think. They just had a baby. I try to remember what Ryke told me, but my gut is telling me not to impede on their lives too much.

“You should babysit more often,” Lo tells his brother.

“Fucking hilarious.” He hands the baby to Loren, and Lily slides to the floor.

I crumple the muffin paper, finished eating, and when I look up, Loren is suddenly focused on me. I have trouble reading his features.

“Your mom is going to fly out this weekend to talk with you. Until then, you can either stay with us in a guest room or at a hotel. I’ll pay for the expense, no problem.”

It’s not a terrible verdict. My mom will probably reiterate what she’s said this whole time:if you stay here, you’re on your own. You make your own mistakes now.

“A hotel works,” I tell him. “I don’t want to impose any more than I already have.”

His baby squirms in his arms, so much so that I can’t take stock in his expression. Lily ends up taking Maximoff so Loren can continue talking with me.

“If you change your mind, the invite is always open.” And then he asks, “How old are you, by the way?”

“Seventeen.” It’s not like I could hide it much longer.

“That’s what I thought.” He pauses. “You know, Daisy is pretty close to your age.”

Daisy Calloway is nineteen—and Ryke’s girlfriend, and also spontaneous, lively, and so much cooler than I’ll ever be.

Ryke gives his brother a look that I can’t decipher.

Loren adds, “She’d probably love showing you around Philly. Is this your first time here?”

Daisy Calloway? Showingmearound? I don’t think she’d be fond of me. I like books. I like scrolling through Tumblr and surfing the internet. I likesittingactivities, and Daisy is always seenmoving.She’d probably try to take me on a wild adventure, and I’d slow her down.

I nod. “Yeah, but…” I stand up since everyone else is, and I find comfort in my backpack, slinging it on my shoulder. “I’m not sure she’d like me. I mean, I don’t ride motorcycles and…other stuff like that.”

I purposefully evade Ryke Meadows since I’m speaking abouthisgirlfriend. And he likes motorcycles. And he likes all that “other” stuff.

“Neither do I,” Lily pipes in. “They’re terrifying.”

Ryke raises his brows at her. “You haven’t even ridden one.”

“Becausethey’re terrifying.”

I relax some. “Yeah, same. I’ve never been on one, but I’m scared too.”

Lily smiles and then points a finger at Ryke. “Ha!” Maximoff coos in her arms, almost babbling in agreement with his mom.

Ryke rolls his eyes and then sets them on me. “Daisy won’t care if you’re not into bikes. She’d honestly do anything you want.”

Maybe I don’t know her well enough to judge.

“I’ll take off work some days this week too,” Loren tells me.

I remember what Ryke said again, about Loren wanting to see me, to build a relationship too. He’s willing to forgo work, just for me. It’s validation that this isn’t a mistake. Not yet at least.

I inhale a stronger breath. “Okay then…where do we start?”

“How about lunch?”

Ryke and Lily chime in about how hungry they both are, but my glasses fog, my eyes burning with tears once more.

My chin trembles a little, and beneath my breath, I say, “Thank you.”