felt about it, but right now I had a dorm to move into.
“You got here ahead of time and checked in already?” Sheila turned to me, her arm now around Kevin’s back. He didn’t seem to mind and leaned into her.
I nodded. “Yeah. I’m all checked in. I met my resident advisor and everything too.” She’d been fine with me moving in ahead of time.
“What’s her name?”
“Avery. I’ll introduce you when we go up there.”
“And your new roommate? Is she here already? When do you meet her?”
“She’s not.” Classes would start on Thursday, and final registration was Wednesday. Today was Saturday. “I have a few days yet.”
“Oh.” Her eyebrows knitted together. “What are you going to do? Maybe you should come back for those days.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’ll take my time, look for a job on campus or something.” I glanced at Kevin. I’d come up early to spend time with him, and as if sensing my thoughts, he looked away, his Adam’s apple moving up and down.
He stepped out of his mom’s hold. “I actually need to get going.” He gestured toward the campus behind him. “I have to meet my academic advisor about declaring my major this year.”
“Yeah?”
He nodded to his mom. “Going pre-law, Mom. You proud?”
She smiled, but it look stilted, like she wasn’t sure how to feel. “Pre-law, huh?” She nudged him with her hip. “My son’s following in his father’s footsteps.”
He continued to hold her gaze. This had been the only topic not talked about since we’d moved into their house: Kevin’s dad, Sheila’s ex-husband.
Glancing at my father, I saw the same tight-lipped expression and knew that Mr. Matthews was still not going to be talked about.
An unspoken look passed between Kevin and his mother before he sighed, cracking a side grin. “Hoping to, anyways.”
“Well.” She lifted her chin. “I’m proud of you, Kevin.”
He pressed his lips together, showing a slight grimace. “Thank you, Mom.” He looked to my dad. “It was nice seeing you again, Daniel.”
My dad held out his hand. “You too, Kevin. We don’t see you enough at the house.”
The two shook hands, and I felt I’d stepped into the Twilight Zone. Things were so stiff and…just awkward with them. I was mystified. I’d really thought everything was fine over the last year, that the two of them were close like Sheila and me.
Kevin swung his beautiful eyes my way, and his voice softened. “See you later, Summer?”
“Uh, yeah. See you later.”
“You two will have such a great time. You’re both at the same college. My son going pre-law. My new daughter already deciding on sports medicine. You’ll have to have weekly dinners.” Sheila pulled Kevin in for a last hug. “You take care of your stepsister, okay?”
“I will. I promise.” Another last farewell and he headed across the sidewalk, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
“Your room is on the sixth floor?” my dad asked.
I nodded. He had a friend come with them to help take the heavier stuff up and he was standing behind us, already holding a box.
“Room 614.” I pointed to the side of the building. “My room’s at the end of the hallway. You could probably use the back stairs to get to it. It’ll be easier.”
“Okay.” He went to the SUV to move it closer to the door while his friend headed inside with the box. “We’ll get everything up there within an hour, I’m sure.”
“Well.” Sheila clapped her hands together, beaming at us. “We should get you unpacked, and then you’re stuck with us for one more day.” She bumped me with her hip. “Start thinking now, Summer. We’ll go anywhere you want to eat tonight. Kevin will probably be busy with some girl, but he’s got no choice. I’m pulling the mom card tonight. We’re going to have one last family dinner. Your choice.”
That sounded fine with me. I’d have all day to prepare to see Kevin once more. I hoped he wouldn’t bring the current girlfriend.
But later at the restaurant I’d chosen, I looked up and sighed as he came in.
Not so much.
He walked in holding Maggie’s hand.
The dinner sucked. Like, seriously sucked.
But I wasn’t surprised. Kevin had the habit of bringing his girlfriend to family dinners, so why would he suddenly change now? And this also told me something had changed between last night and tonight. Kevin no longer seemed to care about getting caught.
I snorted, thinking about that. No, no. Last night had been about him not getting his ass