The Best of Winter Renshaw - An 8 Book Collection - Winter Renshaw Page 0,534

we got ice cream and she took me back.” Dev shrugs. “Not much else to tell.”

“When do you get to see her again?”

“We’re going to meet twice a week, noon to two,” she says. “And she gave me her number.”

“Does she have a name?” I’m sure it was on the paperwork, but I didn’t see it before Mom signed off on everything and sent it back. Honestly, I was surprised I didn’t have to nag her fifty times to get it done, but who knows. She probably looked at it as though it was free childcare. There’s nothing Mom won’t do for a handout.

“Yep,” she says. “It’s None of Your Business Jones.”

“Smartass.” I pull into the driveway of Mom’s house and Dev climbs out of the passenger side. “Got to head back to the shop. I’ll check on you later.”

My sister rolls her eyes. “Or you know. You could get a life of your own.”

I know she’s right, but I don’t dignify her comment with a response.

Dev shuts the door before leaning in the open window, elbows resting on the open frame. “Can I ask you a serious question?”

“Yeah. Okay. What?”

“Are you asexual?”

I choke on my spit.

That was the last question I’d expect anyone to ask me, especially my kid sister. “Why would you ask me that?”

“Just answer it,” she says, biting her lip.

“Devanie.”

“Do you like boys, girls, or nothing?” she asks. “I don’t care. Not going to judge you. Love is love. I’m just wondering.”

“First of all, I’m not discussing my sexuality with you, Devanie,” I say. “Second of all, no. I’m not asexual. I’m very much into women. Not girls. Women.”

“Then why don’t you ever bring anyone around?” she asks. “I mean, you haven’t since Veronica.”

“Dev, I ...” my voice trails. She hasn’t brought up Veronica since shit hit the fan two years ago, and now she says it so casually. But she’s just a kid. I won’t hold it against her.

“You should get back out there then,” she says. “Start dating or something.”

“What do you know about dating?” I wrinkle my nose at her. “Dating’s for people who give a shit about dating. And I don’t give a shit about dating, therefore I don’t date.”

“Maybe I should set you up with my mentor ...” She lifts a finger, tapping it at the side of her mouth.

“You wouldn’t.” The last thing I need is to be set up with some Pollyanna goody-two-shoes volunteer.

Dev stands straight, hooking her bag over her shoulder. “Actually, yeah. You’re right. I wouldn’t. She’s too good for your lame ass.”

Thirteen

Brighton

* * *

“I brought you something,” I say to Devanie when I meet with her the next week. It's our third time getting together. Last Thursday we met up and I took her to the mall where we got Starbucks and mostly window-shopped, though I almost bought her a lotion and body spray from Bath and Body Works. I don’t want to get into the habit of buying her things every single time we get together. That creates entitlement, and I’m here to help her gain confidence, to motivate and positively influence her.

“What’s that?” Devanie stares at the filled-to-the-brim Saks bags in my hands as we sit down in the social hall of the Boys and Girls Club.

Last Thursday at the mall, I couldn’t help but notice how tight and ill-fitting Devanie’s clothes were.

She’s a bit more mature than most girls her age, a bit more developed. Longer legs too. It’s as if she hit a growth spurt and she’s trying her best to make her current wardrobe work. Her tight jean shorts were clearly cutoffs and her wrinkled t-shirt was tight in the shoulders but loose around her waist, as if she’d tugged it in an attempt to stretch it out.

On a few occasions, we passed some groups of teenage girls who all gawked at Devanie, and not in a good way.

She didn’t notice. Or if she did, she pretended not to.

But it broke my heart knowing that such a sweet girl like her would make for such an easy target for bullies like them.

I know her mom’s a single mom who works a ton, and I’m sure money’s tight and back to school shopping is still a couple of months away, so over the weekend I went through my closet and collected anything and everything I thought she might like.

I hand over the bags and watch Devanie go through a few of the items on top. They’re mostly casual dresses and tank tops,