I’d always been one to fall for the wounded birds. Thinking I could fix things for them and then we’d be one big, happy family. It never ended well. All through high school and college, I’d had one disastrous relationship after another. But I’d learned my lesson. And once I’d gotten custody of my siblings…I could count on one hand the number of dates I’d been on.

I turned back to the salad, giving it one more toss for good measure. “You don’t have to worry. I’m not going down that road. All I’d like from Griffin is to be his friend. It looks like he could use one.”

But that wouldn’t stop me from trying to earn his lip twitches and chuckles. Because they felt like the brightest light shining down on me, and I wanted to stand in that sun.

4

Caelyn

“No, no, no.” I banged my head against the steering wheel with each word. This wasn’t happening. Maybe if I closed my eyes and wished hard enough, I’d end up on a sunny beach somewhere. A place where handsome pool boys would bring me endless drinks and snacks.

I cracked an eye open. No sand and surf. There was only smoke billowing from my SUV’s hood. I let my head fall back to the wheel. It had been overheating more and more recently. I knew what was wrong, but I’d put off taking it to the mechanic. The thought of one more unexpected bill had tears burning the backs of my eyes.

I’d had a long talk with Coach Hughes today, and she wanted Mia in the gym five times a week. Mia was begging to go. And there was even a family willing to let her carpool with them to Shelter Island so I didn’t have to haul the other kids with me to take Mia to practice. I wanted so badly to find a way to make it happen for her. Hell, I’d sell plasma if I had to. If she had what it took to get a college scholarship, it could change everything for her. Not to mention, nothing lit Mia up like when she was tumbling.

I let out a sigh and watched the smoke continue billowing from my engine. Eventually, it would stop. Then I would deal with it. One thing at a time.

The sound of a vehicle approaching had me checking my rearview mirror. A familiar truck pulled to the side of the road behind me. Tipping my head heavenward, I silently begged the Universe to swallow me whole. Why did this man have to witness so many of my embarrassing moments? The burn at the backs of my eyes grew stronger as Griffin climbed out of his truck.