When Darkness Ends (Moments in Boston #3) - Marni Mann Page 0,31

We added some slush to our snowballs, making them icy, and we were playing dodgeball with the cars driving down the street.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I told you, reckless. Anyway, it was Dylan’s turn; he wound up and threw too high, and it hit the windshield. The glass didn’t break, but the driver slammed on his brakes and came running after us. We were stupid enough to do it in front of my house, and while we took off, he rang my doorbell and ratted us out to my mom.” I shook my head. “Man, we never did that again.”

“Your parents were pissed?”

I laughed. “Little bit. I think we were grounded for months over that one.”

“Tell me about one of the hard times.”

Her interesting questions constantly made me think.

“My grandfather died the spring of my sophomore year, my grandmother three months later. They’d lived about an hour away in Brockton, and I had been really close to them. Dylan and I would spend a lot of our weekends there. When they passed away, I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t even close my eyes.” I wiped my mouth with my napkin, staring at my plate. “During those nights, I’d sneak out and go to Dylan’s. We’d watch a movie, and eventually, hours later, I’d fall asleep. But he would wait until he knew I was sleeping, and then he’d go to bed—never before me, not even once.”

“He’s important to you.”

“He’s my brother. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him.”

Her smile told me she understood. “He’s lucky to have you.”

“No.” I picked up the chopsticks and attacked the beef. “I’m lucky as fuck to have him.”

After struggling with the chopsticks, she used one of the spoons to scoop up some rice. “I often wonder what it would be like to have a sibling. It’s such a foreign feeling that I can’t even imagine it.” She swallowed and took a drink. “You come from such a big family, whereas it’s just Gran and me. It’s a strange comparison.”

“Not strange at all.” I popped a piece of broccoli into my mouth. “Sometimes, having only one person in your life can feel like a million. Gran is your mother, father, and siblings, all in one. I suspect she’s more than enough.”

She stared at me, not eating while I spoke. “You’re right.”

“Listen, when I was growing up, my sisters and I fought like hell, and that’s all we ever did. Family dinners were loud, and they took forever. There were three women in my house, so I never won a single argument.” I laughed. “Don’t yearn for the way I grew up because if life suddenly changed and you were stuck in a family of five, I guarantee you’d want to switch back.”

“You’re probably right.” She set down her spoon and put her hands on her stomach. “I’m so stuffed. I don’t think I can eat another bite.”

“You have to save room for dessert.”

Her eyes widened. “There’s more?”

She looked like a kid who had just realized there was more than one present for her under the tree.

“It’s at my apartment. This’ll give you some time to digest before I fill you with cake.”

She wrapped her hand around the glass of cider and sipped it. “This is magical.”

“No …” I stood from my chair and held out my hand. Once she grabbed it, I brought her over to the edge of the balcony. “This is magical.”

“I’ve never seen Boston this way before.”

Even though I was standing behind her, holding her body against me, I positioned my neck in a way where I could see her profile. Like I’d done in the taxi, I was experiencing the city through her eyes, a view far more mesmerizing than the one in front of us.

I gently wrapped my arms over her chest, the back of her head resting against me. “How do you normally see it?”

She was silent for several seconds, but a change of tone eventually broke through. “Where I live, there’s someone homeless every few feet. Drug dealers on the corners. Violence in the streets, screaming behind closed doors, gang signs spray-painted on every surface. When I take the train to school, I rush inside a building and then hurry to work.” She paused. “I never stop to notice the beauty.” She looked over her shoulder at me. “Not until today.”

She kissed me, taking her time.

“Thank you for bringing me here and for giving me the best birthday I’ve ever had.” Her eyes opened as she whispered against my mouth, “And