Crossing Paths by Melanie Stinnett

sworn she sounded like she had been crying. She said it was just a cold, but she was acting weird. I asked my brother about it, and he said he hasn’t noticed anything different about her.”
    “Oh, it’s probably nothing to be too concerned about. Maybe she just misses you and didn’t want to tell you,” June’s mom suggests.
    “Maybe,” I say before taking a drink of my water.
    Liam sneaks in a quick squeeze of my knee as we are getting up from the table. I trip over the leg of my chair, barely keeping the contents of my plate in place. I swear that I have never acted like this before, and it has me out of sorts. As much as I want to spend time around Liam, I’m glad to join June upstairs as she gets her things.
    “Hey, can you grab my flowers?” she asks, pointing toward the nightstand.
    “Sure.” As I pick up the vase, I notice the card is missing from the plastic holder. “Did you throw away the card?”
    “No,” she says, pulling it out from under her pillow.
    “Even if you slept here last night, it would be strange to sleep with that under your pillow.” I smirk.
    “Oh, shut it. I had to hide it when my mom walked in. I didn’t want to explain who they were from.”
    She hands over the card, and I read it again as I slip it into the holder. “Who signs their name with an initial? Even rappers put forth more effort than that.”
    “First of all, I wouldn’t have much insight into the way rappers sign their names. Second, the card is sweet, so I don’t care how he signed it.” June sticks out her tongue.
    I laugh, and then we head downstairs to say a quick good-bye. Liam and Addison are nowhere in sight, but June’s parents are waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Her mom gives us each a hug and steps out onto the front doorstep as we walk to our cars.
    “See you girls for dinner next week.”
    “Alright, Mom. See you then,” June says loudly as she gets things settled into her car. I walk toward the street, and my phone chimes in my purse. Digging it out, I see Liam’s name, and I can’t help but smile.
    “Is that a message from your boy toy at work? I expect full details when we get home!” June shouts from her driver’s side window.
    “Yeah, yeah. Whatever,” I reply.
    I tap on the message.
     
    I don’t think I’ll be able to keep my hands off of you at the table next weekend. Are you going to tell June we’ve been seeing each other? —Liam
     
    Not sure. It didn’t seem like you were too keen on informing Eli at the baseball game. —Caroline
     
    We should talk. Let me know when you’re available. I’ll make time. —Liam
     
    As I drive home, I think about the implications of telling my best friend that I am kind of, sort of dating her brother. I am beyond “Hey, do you think this would be okay?”, and I’m pretty sure I’m not to “It doesn’t matter what you say because I’m in love with him.” This is going to be tough, and I will have to tread lightly. Maybe I can test the waters tonight when we get home.

Monday
    I’m beginning to worry about Caroline. Last night, she mentioned something at dinner about her mom, and I’m hoping everything is okay.
    A few years ago, we had a scare with my mom when she had some weird pains in her stomach. When the doctor ordered scans, there were spots they weren’t sure about, so they ordered a few more tests. The process took several weeks, and of course, the entire family was throwing around the word cancer in hushed voices. That made the situation much more stressful. We were relieved when everything turned out normal.
    I think Caroline is doing the right thing by trying not to worry too much—at least until she knows more. Although, I’m sure it’s weighing on her more than she wants to admit.
    Last night, I tried to brighten her mood and get details about this new boy she’s went out with a couple of times. She all but blew him off as nothing, but I can tell it’s more than nothing. When she gets messages from him,