The Boy Who Has No Belief - Victoria Quinn Page 0,92

her own and being awesome at it. What kind of excuse do they really have? Look at your parents. They’re so loving and nice toward me, and they don’t even know me. I just mean… I don’t know it’s…it’s stupid.” She looked down into her mug and stared at the marshmallows floating over the surface.

I could just leave it alone, let the subject fade and disappear. But I didn’t. “You can tell me, Liz.”

She lifted her chin and looked at me again, hesitation in her eyes. “I guess I just…like having you around. It feels like I have a dad. And I never felt like I needed a dad, but having you makes me realize how nice it is. You know, someone to help me with my homework, someone who teaches me stuff, makes me feel good about myself, someone who takes care of my mom when no one ever takes care of her…”

Stunned, all I could do was stare at her. I told her we could be friends, but the relationship had deepened for her into something more. She let me in, trusted me, saw me as a part of her family. I didn’t even try to make that happen…and it just did.

She continued to look at me like she hoped I would say something so she wouldn’t feel stupid.

I did one of those long obnoxious pauses that I wished I wouldn’t do, but they were necessary to think of the right thing to say. “You know, when Emerson told me she had a daughter, I was scared. I don’t have experience with kids. I don’t know anything about them. But then we started working together, and I came to develop a deep fondness for you, pride whenever you excel, protectiveness when someone treats you less than the way you deserve. I’ve come to care deeply for you, Liz. And not because I love your mother, but…because I love you.”

I drove back into the city late that night, Lizzie asleep in the back seat with her head against the window. The headlights lit up the dark road as we headed back to Manhattan, no other cars on the road because everyone was nestled with their families. Light music played over the radio.

Emerson turned to look at me, her jacket on her lap to keep her warm. “I really like your sister.”

“Good because I don’t.”

She chuckled before she smacked me on the arm. “You’re so full of it.”

“Alright, she’s pretty cool.”

“She seems smart like you and Dex, but she’s a lot better with conversation.”

“She gets that from my mom.”

“And she’s so pretty. Like, sometimes it’s hard to look at her.”

“Again, she gets that from my mom.”

“It must have been nice for you to spend time with them both,” she said. “I know you don’t see them a lot.”

“Yeah, it bums me out sometimes.” Daisy was at Harvard, and Dex was at Johns Hopkins. I only saw them during the holidays or over the summer. It sucked sometimes. It made me realize how much I took for granted when we were growing up. But Daisy was so much younger than me that we were never really compatible until she became an adult. Dex was a lot closer to her since they were similar in age.

“I love your family. They’re all super-smart and accomplished people, but they’re so humble and laid-back. When I imagine a room full of doctors, Nobel Prize winners, and rocket scientists, I imagine the most pretentious evening ever.”

“Definitely not us,” I said with a chuckle.

“Your parents did such a good job with you guys—parents of the year.”

“I don’t know about that. I think we just grew up to be like them, so it was natural.”

We spent the rest of the drive in silence, and then I pulled up to the curb outside their apartment.

Lizzie was snoring in the back seat, her jacket on top of her, her head rolled back and her mouth open. Even when I turned off the engine and the music had stopped, she still didn’t stir.

Emerson looked in the back seat and glanced at her. “Wow, she’s knocked out cold.”

“Too much hot cocoa.” I looked in the rearview mirror and watched her sleep, my eyes softening in affection.

We got out of the car, and Emerson opened the back door. “Time to wake up, honey.”

“It’s okay.” I came around the side and unfastened Lizzie’s safety belt. “I got her.” I scooped my arms underneath her and lifted her from the car, leaving her gifts behind