Mia Hill. College bound with an athletic scholarship. A go-getter with big dreams and a fully thought out plan to make sure they come true.
But with her father's release from prison looming and the inevitable stresses of adulting, everything she wa...
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"What on earth are you drinking?"
My sister's shock is clear in her voice as she slumps down next to me on Aunt Sadie's unnecessarily cushy sofa. I'm happy to feel her presence beside me, but I can't bring myself to look at her just yet.
I'm too busy staring into my cup, watching the marshmallows dissolve in the warm, sugary liquid. It's better than TV.
"Gray." Cecelia nudges me with her elbow.
I nudge her right back because it's basically a law in the sibling handbook. "If you must know, I'm drinking hot chocolate."
"You hate hot chocolate."
"I know I hate hot chocolate."
"So, why are you drinking it?" Cece's smile turns into a smirk. "Hoping your lovely girlfriend will sniff out the sweet aroma of the cocoa bean and come talk to you?"
"No."
Yes.
"Mia doesn't strike me as the type to fall for bribery tactics," Cece dismisses the thought of it. "Even if it has to do with chocolate. I think you're going to have to try a little harder."
"I have been." My whining is obnoxious, but she has no idea how hard I've tried to steal Mia away so we could talk. All my attempts, hot chocolate bribery or otherwise, have been futile.
It's her last night in town. Her family's literally catching a flight back to California in a few hours and, by some miracle, we're all gathered in one place for an After Christmas Party at Uncle Austin and Aunt Sadie's house. But by the way Mia's dodging me, she might as well be on another planet.
The house is crowded with a few extra friends and extended family members, including a handful of younger kids, and she and June have been entertaining them for most of the night with games and crafts. Anytime I've tried to talk to her, I'd take just a few minutes at this point, she always tells me to wait until later. But later is now. Later was an hour ago. And our chance to discuss what's going on between us is dwindling away.
What if she leaves before we can talk? Has that been her plan all evening? With the way things went down at the community center, I wouldn't be surprised. The quiet weirdness has officially evolved into the full-on silent treatment, and I'm not sure how much longer I can take it.
When my eyes drift around the room, finally landing on Mia again because that's all they know how to do anymore, I'm surprised to find her glancing in my direction. Her eyes are a miserable puddle of honey, all serious and sad as she stares back at me, making me wonder what the hell she's still doing all the way over there. Doesn't she know I can help with that? Whatever she's feeling right now, it's my mission to make it better.
I set down the hot chocolate and grab my phone, typing out a text and ignoring Cece as she snoops over my shoulder to read what it says.
