Melissa ignored the question and put the fish on the stringer and put it back in the water with the two others she’d caught. She grabbed another minnow from the bucket and held it tightly as she passed the hook through the eyes. It pained her to hurt the tiny fish, but the hunger inside pushed her past that. She pulled the rod back and cast the line again, the bobber hitting with a plop, and checked the other line. The bobber floated steady.

“Tell me what he said again,” Kelly said.

“Tell you what who said?”

“You know who. Lee. What did he say to Brian about me?”

“Lee’s nothing but bad news. Why are you hanging around him?”

“You need me to explain?” She sat up. “He’s cuter than Justin Timberlake, has bigger muscles, too. What’s not to like?”

“I’m telling you he’s bad news. You’re a dog chasing a car. What are you going to do when you catch him?”

“I’ll figure it out when it happens.”

“Nothing good is going to come from you chasing him.”

Kelly scoffed. “Like you’re one to talk.”

“What’s that mean?”

“It means you ought to look in the mirror.”

Melissa scowled and rolled her eyes, her back to her friend. “Brian’s not like Lee. He’s one of the good ones.”

“Right. And you’re not chasing after him at all, are you? Sharon said . . .” She stopped, evidently thinking better of finishing the thought.

Melissa turned. “Sharon said what?”

“Nothing.”

Melissa put a hand on her hip. “What did she say?”

Kelly dipped her head like a second grader who had been taught not to tattle. But Melissa saw a glint in her friend’s eyes as she glanced up. She was enjoying this.

“Sharon said she saw you going into Brian’s apartment. With a suitcase.”

Melissa tried not to react. “So? I’m staying there for a while.”

“Right. She said you two are practically married. Hanging all over each other in the hallway. Said you’ve moved in with him.”

A glance at the bobber. “You know what it’s like at my house.”

“Yeah. But Sharon said you’d be staying there no matter how messed up your family is. Said you’re head over heels.”