Chapter 54
“I hate funerals, too. Hopefully, we won't have any more for a while." Elliott was over with her friends now, talking, and they looked like they were having a nice conversation. I saw a flicker of what looked like jealousy cross my sister’s face. I felt it, too. She shrugged it off. "Mom said you guys were leaving pretty soon, too.”
“That’s good. I wish I could just ride back with you." I was ready to leave.
Cadence frowned. "I'm sorry, Cass. But Elliott drove Aaron's Lamborghini, and it's just a two-seater."
Before I could say anything, Milo chimed in, "Lamborghini? That's so cool."
I couldn’t help but feel disappointed—and trapped. “Okay,” I said, staring at the toes of my shoes.
My sister exhaled loudly. "Wait a second.” She touched me lightly on the arm and then went over to talk to Elliott. He shrugged, and then she approached my parents. A few seconds later, my sister was back. "Okay," she said, "Elliott's going to drive Mom's car, and Dad's gonna drive the Lamborghini. So, you can ride with us."
I couldn’t help but laugh at the idea of my dad driving Aaron’s car. And then there was Elliott in my mom’s van. "Seriously? That's hilarious."
"I know, right?" Cadence agreed. "I didn't tell Elliott he'd be driving a Honda Odyssey, but I'm sure he will look cool driving anything."
There was something about the way that she said it that made me think she was back, the sister I was used to. I couldn’t help but wrap my arms around her. “I miss you, Cade,” I said quietly into her hair.
“I miss you, too, Sis,” she replied. She let me go, and I turned back to my friends as she headed off to meet Elliott by the door, Mom’s keys in her hand.
“I’ll see you guys soon,” I said. I felt like maybe I should hug them, but that seemed a little weird, so I didn’t.
“See you, Cass,” Milo said.
“Take care.” Wes offered me a small smile. I wondered if I’d ever be able to bring these two into the loop. The thought had crossed my mind back in the beginning, a few weeks ago, forever ago. I felt like it was a possibility then, but now, I realized not even Lucy and Emma were with me. Once again, I felt all alone.
Elliott was doing his best to cheer me up. We went through the drive through at McDonald’s and got ice cream cones, despite the cold weather. And he blasted a Lionel Richie song on the radio, singing off-key at the top of his lungs. By the time we got home, I was laughing and felt much better.
Seeing my dad pull up in the Lamborghini was also pretty comical. But that also meant Elliott would have to leave. Watching him pull away made me feel all alone again, even though my family was right there with me, and if it hadn’t been for a text from him I got a few moments later letting me know he’d be back soon enough, I probably would’ve broken down and cried.
Something was bothering my sister. I could tell by the irritated expression on her face. She slogged back over to the couch as I slipped my phone in my back pocket and agreed with Mom that Elliott was a great guy. I couldn’t help but ask Cadence the question that popped out of my mouth, the one that had her choking on her water. “Are you dating him, Cadence?”
Once she was able to breathe again, she said, “No! Why would you think that?” She had water all down her shirt and was brushing it away.
“I don’t know,” I admitted, sitting down near her. "I just thought you got along so well, and he's kind of cute, in a teddy bear sort of way. I think you would be adorable together.”
“I'm sorry, Cass, but no. I don't like Elliott like that. It would be like, if I asked you if you were dating Milo or Wes.”
All I could say to that was, “Eww!” I loved those boys, but not like that. I felt like I could trust what my sister was telling me, and when my mom asked if she was dating Aaron, my sister also denied that. I mentioned to her I thought perhaps Mr. McReynolds was married, just to feel her out, and my sister thought that was hilarious for some reason.
"No, he's not married. And, no, we're not dating. We've . . . talked. That's about it. Nothing going on there. Nothing at all." I saw something like melancholy flicker across Cadence’s face and knew I’d struck a nerve. I felt bad for her and wished I hadn’t brought it up. Perhaps there was something going on with her and Aaron, something she wasn’t going to tell me about; that much I knew for sure.
I excused myself and went upstairs, not because I had any friends I could call and report to, and not because there was any research I needed to look up, but because I needed to be alone. I stayed in there for most of the afternoon, only leaving long enough to grab something to eat.
Later that evening, I heard voices coming from outside. I couldn’t hear a single word, but I knew it was my sister. And Aaron. I hadn’t heard his car pull up, but it was there, parked in front of the house. A few minutes later, they left--together. I had no idea where they were going. For that matter, I didn’t even know if she’d be back, but she didn’t have any luggage, so I thought she might be. I sighed and flopped onto my bed, thinking I’d never know anything.
