manicure that pretty.
“You are?” Her mother looked up from where she had Chris dividing some plants. “Why are you still here?”
Lily stood, dusting her knees off. She was still here because her mother had gone off on a little woe is me story about how she was alone all the time and how Nancy said Lily should be with the family more.
But if her mother wanted to play around, she’d take it. “I did call!”
“Yes, yes. But Tate made fried chicken, Lily. Do I need to repeat that?”
“Oh. Well then. I just need to get cleaned up. Take me ten minutes. Mom, why don’t I give you a ride over to church? They’re having that plant sale and I bet your help would be really appreciated.” They’d asked her a few times, including that morning at church, but she’d been embarrassed. Her friends really did appear to miss her though, and Lily knew that they’d help her get past this mess if Pamela would only let them.
“I think you should, Mom.” Chris stood and helped their mother up. Lily smiled at the sight of the kid she sometimes wondered if she’d lost forever. Plus she knew he hated yard work.
“Well, maybe so. It does tend to get busy after lunch.”
“Great. Why don’t you go get cleaned up and I’ll take you over when you’re ready.”
Pamela smiled and agreed before disappearing into the house.
“Good call,” Chris told Lily.
Lily looked her brother over. “You want to come with us to Tate’s? They’re having a big Sunday barbecue.”
“Fried chicken. Oh and Polly Chase is there so you’re guaranteed a delicious everything. There are other young people around, and I’m pretty sure one of the men would let you do something dangerous near the coals or something.”
“So helpful.” She sent an exaggerated smile Beth’s way.
“Yeah, that’d be cool if it was all right with you guys. Maybe after I could stop by the Shack?” The Shake Shack had been a Petal institution since it opened in the mid 1990s. Kids from the high school often hung out on weekends and evenings. But it was well lit and the wildest thing they got up to was hollering at each other as the cars drove in.
“You’ve been a pretty solid kiddo for the last few weeks. I think maybe a few hours at the Shack would be a good reward.” And the kids he’d started hanging out with would be there. His little ruffian friends would be at the convenience store on the other side of town. She liked keeping them apart.
He shot off inside, and Beth followed her up to her place so she could get changed.
“Nathan’s going to be there. You should wear something that shows off your boobs.”
“He’s seen them a few times. Also, I don’t know why you keep bringing him up. He’s a friend and Chris’s teacher.”
“Whatever. I’ll pretend I don’t see how you two look at each other then.”
“Fine. I’d do the same for you.”
“It’s inevitable. You two are made to be together.”
“I thought we weren’t talking about that anymore. All those chemicals have scrambled your brains.”
Beth laughed. “You’re full of crap.”
“Yeah? Well, you kissed Ricky Crandall. And you let him touch your boob.”
Beth turned bright red. “I can’t believe you took that out of the vault.”
“I had to change the subject. I’ve got loads more. You want to go?”
“Girl, you were no angel yourself!”
They both laughed. “Yes, but you totally let a guy with a mullet feel you up. I win.”
“Feel me up! He just touched the outside. He didn’t even touch the nipple. It doesn’t even count.”
“You just keep telling yourself that.” Lily took one last look in the mirror and then headed out.
“It’s inevitable.” Beth sang it as they headed back down to collect Chris and Pamela.
She knew Nathan would be there. Beth didn’t have to tell her that. First, he seemed to be everywhere she was these days. Lily cut her gaze to Beth where she stood talking with Tate. Those Murphy women were part of it, she knew. Funny how every time she was scheduled to be somewhere with any of them, Nathan just happened to show up.
And second, this was a family event so of course he’d be there. When they’d first gotten together, it had been that connection to his siblings that’d drawn her to him the most.
As if he knew she stared, he looked up from where he’d been engaged in a cutthroat game of cards with his brothers and Matt Chase.