face into his shoulder. “What are you doing here?” Melly asked once she finally let him go.
Adam looked to me to explain. “Melly, Mom told me to pick you up.”
Melly glanced at me for the first time, her eyes lighting as she let go of Adam and transferred some of her affection my way.
“Jenny!” she exclaimed in the way she had I never tired of. Melly had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person in the world. And to Melly, you usually were even if she’d only just met you.
“Here’s your bag, Melly.” Mrs. Spriggs held out Melly’s backpack with an indulgent smile. It was impossible not to love her.
Melly released me to accept the bag and thread her arms through the straps, so it hung from the middle of her back.
“Did you bring a jacket?” I asked, glancing around the room for anything that might look familiar and need to go home.
Mrs. Spriggs answered. “It’s in her backpack.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Spriggs. Sorry you had to wait.” I reached for Melly’s hand as she reached for Adam’s.
“No worries,” Mrs. Spriggs assured me. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Melly.”
Melly said goodbye to her teacher as she pulled Adam and me from the classroom.
“Are you coming to my house?” she asked him.
“I am. Is that okay?” Adam smiled at her as she swung their hands between them.
“Yes. Did Jenny say it was okay?” Melly asked.
“She did,” Adam replied with all soberness, but I caught the twinkle in his eye and felt myself relax. Adam wouldn’t do anything to hurt Melly.
“Well, I guess it’s all right then.” Melly nodded, matching Adam’s serious tone.
“Good. I’m glad.” Adam shouldered open the door leading outside, and I realized he didn’t have his guitar.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” I asked him.
He looked at me over Melly’s head. “What?”
“Your guitar?” I reminded him.
“Right.” He smacked his forehead with the palm of his free hand. “It’s in the practice room. I’ll have to run and get it then meet you there. Will that work?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’ll text you the address. Did you ride your motorcycle today?” My parents might have a slight heart attack if they came home to a motorcycle parked in the driveway.
Adam grinned knowingly. He’d been teasing me relentlessly about being obsessed with his motorcycle. “I knew you only liked me for the bike.”
“You have a motorcycle?” Melly asked, interrupting the heated exchange our eyes had been having over the top of her head.
Adam nodded. “I do.”
Melly gasped. “Can I ride it?”
“Oh, um, I don’t know, Melly,” Adam stammered, widening his eyes at me, begging for help.
“Probably not, Melly. I don’t think Mom and Dad would like that.” Even if Adam drove ten miles per hour and Melly wore a suit of armor. They were very protective of her.
“Have you ridden on his motorcycle?” Melly turned her bright almond-shaped eyes on me.
“Oh, um,” I began. Adam chuckled at my flustered response. I shot him a dirty look before turning back to my sister. “I have, actually.”
Melly’s mouth dropped open. “You have? Do Mom and Dad know?”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before answering. “No. They don’t. And I don’t want them to, okay?”
Melly gasped. “You want me to lie?”
“No. Melly. Errr!” I growled, rubbing my forehead with my fist. “No. Of course, I don’t want you to lie. But if you could just not say anything, that would be great.” And a snowball’s chance in hell she’d be able to keep that tidbit of information to herself, but it was worth a shot to ask her.
I looked up to see Adam grinning and Melly staring censoriously. I rolled my eyes. “Come on. Let’s get this show on the road. Melly, get in the car. Adam, go get your guitar.”
Melly stomped over to the passenger side door, but Adam hadn’t moved a muscle. Except for his mouth, which had curved into an even bigger smile.
I lifted my brow.
Adam chuckled under his breath. “Yes, ma’am!”
20
Adam
Jenna and her family only lived half a mile from my house. It surprised me to see which house was hers. I’d driven past it a million times and never known who it belonged to. I parked my bike out front and unstrapped my guitar. By the time I reached the front door, Melly had flung it open and stood, grinning at me.
“Hey, Melly.”
“You’re at my house,” she said, hooking her arms around my waist in a fierce hug.
“I know.” I hugged her back just as