Aftershocks by Monica Alexander Page B

look at me for a few seconds, a deeper meaning in his eyes that I wished I could read.
    “Do you want to let me in?” I asked, praying that I hadn’t freaked him out with my question. I had to remind myself again that even though I felt like I’d known him forever, we realy didn’t know each other that wel. Maybe I was being too presumptuous.
    “Yes,” he said quietly. “But I need to do it in my own time, okay?”
    I nodded, suddenly realizing he was wiling to let me into his world, and I knew there was absolutely no place else I’d rather be.
    “Okay,” he said, bracing himself. “You should know that I hate broccoli,” he said, and I just laughed.
    Normaly, I would have told him that reveal sucked, but for some reason I knew I shouldn’t push him. I knew without knowing that he had some skeletons in his closet. I was afraid if I tried to pul them out too fast, they’d al fal on top of us and end up hurting our friendship.
    I’d let him show me in his own time.
    “Okay, duly noted. I’l never feed you broccoli.”
    “Your turn,” he said, turning to me.
    “No way. You found out my family is super-diverse. That counts.”
    “Fine,” he said. “Technicaly you didn’t tel me that, but I’l let you have a pass this time. Tomorrow you have to tel me something real.”
    “Fine,” I said, echoing him and roling my eyes for his benefit, although I was secretly thriled that I’d be seeing him the next day.
    “You realy have a black adopted brother and a gay step-brother.”
    He just blurted it out, and I had to laugh. I hadn’t expected such a blunt statement from him.
    “What?” Connor asked, and I could tel he was realizing how his comment had sounded. “Shit, now I sound like a racist again.
    Dammit!”
    His jaw was tense as he shook his head from side to side slowly, visibly aggravated with himself. I rested my hand on his. It gripped the gear shift so tightly his knuckles were turning white. He wasn’t shifting, so I prized his hand free and took it in mine.
    Connor looked over at me and grimaced. “I suck. I’m sorry.”
    “You don’t suck, Connor. It’s fine – realy. I get questions al the time about my family. We’re actualy quite normal, but if you have any questions, please ask. I’ve heard them al.”
    Connor took his eyes off the road again to glance over at me, but he didn’t say anything. I could tel he wanted to but held back. A part of me was glad. I didn’t want to tel him about Wyatt just yet.
    “Did you realy have fun at the game?” he asked after a few minutes of silence.
    “Yeah, I did,” I said, noticing he hadn’t let go of my hand. “I have to confess, I stil didn’t know what was going on half the time, but it was fun.”
    He laughed. “Yeah, I figured. We can work on the knowledge part. That’s easy.” We were silent for a few minutes before he asked,
    “You’re sure you won’t consider coming out tonight? It’l be fun, but more fun if you’re there.”
    Even though I’d turned him down half a dozen times already, I figured this was his last-ditch effort to convince me. I was tempted, but I didn’t want to third wheel with him and psycho-bitch. I would spend time with Connor when it was just the two of us.
    “I’m definitely good with staying in,” I said with assurance in my voice.
    “Okay, wel, we’l miss you,” he said, letting my hand go so he could downshift.
    His comment made my stomach flip. Even though he’d said ‘we’l miss you’, I hoped what he realy meant was he would miss me.
    Before I knew it, we were in front of my house and Connor had the car in neutral. I looked over at him, not knowing how to proceed.
    Should I hug him? Would that be too much? I felt like I was at the end of a first date. Luckily I didn’t have a chance to over think it longer than a few seconds.
    Connor reached over and hugged me tightly. “I had fun, Abby.”
    “Me too. Thanks for talking me into going.”
    “You sure you’re okay staying home