I didn’t even know what passion fruit actually looked like, but the gelato was pretty much the best thing I’d ever tasted in my entire life.

“Can’t you bring some home to me?”

“It’ll start melting, and then I’ll have to lick up the drips, and before you know it, the whole thing will be in my belly.”

I narrowed my gaze at my cousin. “And why can’t you get it in a cup so it’s not a big deal if it drips?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not bringing it to you. You have to leave the house. You’re starting to blend into the furniture, and it’s not healthy. Go take a shower. Wash your ass, put on some clean clothes, and at least pretend you’re still a functioning human being. You never know what’ll happen—you might actually start functioning again.”

The cracked pieces inside me threatened to shatter. Over gelato.

“I just buried both of my parents. Can’t you bring me some freaking ice cream?” My voice rose until it was nearly a shriek at the end.

Cricket rushed toward me and wrapped me in a hug. “Jesus. Finally. Scream at me. Yell at me. Do something other than sit there like a mute.”

Tears streaked down my face as my shoulders shook. “Why?”

“Because you’re trying to bury yourself with them, and I can’t let you do that.” She sniffled. “I’m sorry, Whit. I don’t want to make you cry, but I need you to stop staring through me like I’m not even here. I just want my cousin back, even if it’s just a little. I need you to try to live again.”

I knew what Cricket was doing, and I couldn’t hate her for it. I let my tears soak her shoulder. But it was her sniffles and the tears sliding down her cheeks that made my decision easy.

“Fine. You win. I’ll take a shower, and we can go get gelato.”

She pulled back, blinking her bloodshot eyes. “Thank you, Whit. I know you won’t regret it.”

I hoped she was right.

An hour later, Cricket and I were in Aunt Jackie’s car heading downtown.

We parked on the street and climbed out. She didn’t lie to me about the gelato, because I could see the owner waving and pointing at it through the front window of Tutti Frutti as soon as she caught sight of us.

Once I had a cone in hand, Cricket and I walked outside and wandered down Bridge Street toward the city square where there were benches in an area near all the little shops that seemed to be springing up one after another.

“Oh, do you see that dress? How cute is that?” She pointed at a blousy off-the-shoulder dress in the window. It was definitely her style.

“Super cute,” I said, finding it easier than I’d expected to fall back into our old patterns.

“I’m going to go try it on. Want to come?”