“Please don’t try to make that a thing,” I reply, rolling my eyes at the cheerful expression emphasized by the colorful silk scarf Hallie tied around her ponytail.

“Well, someone has to counteract all the negative energy you’re exuding,” she replies, as I click my seatbelt into place.

“I had to get up at five for my run, and the row behind me contained not one, but two screaming children. Please excuse me if I’m not the picture of joy and excitement.”

“Right, because otherwise you would be,” Hallie remarks dryly as she pulls away from the curb. I don’t deny it.

“Speaking of screaming children, where’s yours?”

Hallie manages to give me side-eye while navigating a roundabout. “With Matt and his family. They’re staying with us, too.”

“What?!”

“You can always stay at Dad’s, Saylor.”

I huff out an annoyed breath. “I’m guessing that means Jackson is also staying at the house.”

“He is my brother-in-law.”

“Which makes the fact that he does nothing but hit on me all the weirder.”

“Well, you’re not related to him,” Hallie points out.

“Legally, I am.”

“He’s just trying to be friendly.”

I laugh. “Thank God you found Matt in pre-algebra. Jackson asked me out to dinner at your wedding, Hallie. That’s not just being friendly to your sister-in-law’s sister.”

“He’s harmless.”

“I know. Doesn’t mean I want to spend the next couple days fending off his advances.”

“Would it be that terrible to be in a relationship?” Hallie asks. “Not with Jackson, but someone else,” she adds hastily, completely misreading my silence.

“I don’t have time for it.”

“You make time for it, Saylor. There’s never been a guy?”

I’m uncharacteristically honest. “Maybe. One. I don’t know. It didn’t end well.”

“Didn’t end well, how?”

“He probably has a dartboard with my face on it.”

Hallie laughs. “How come?”

I look out the window to watch the familiar scenery of my hometown flash by. “Things got confusing between us. Maybe they always were.”

“That clarified nothing, Saylor.”

I sigh. “He said he doesn’t know how I feel about him.”

“And what did you say?”

“That I don’t know,” I admit. “He said I should, and he’s probably right. Right?” I don’t realize how desperate I am for Hallie’s opinion until I voice the words.

“I think it means something that you don’t,” Hallie replies. “It’s a lot easier to know you don’t have feelings for someone than to admit you do. I also think it means something if you’re still thinking about it. And that you told me, seeing as you never share anything.” I scoff, although I know she’s right. The FBI could hire me to guard state secrets.

There’s a pause.

A long one.

I’m not expecting her to say anything else.