She finally calmed herself down enough to speak, "It's all I had." She laughed into her pillow.

I came to a stand and looked around the room.

She was still laughing.

"There's probably something in my car I can use. Anything has to be better than a Hello Kitty rag." I picked up my jeans and went through my pockets, looking for my keys.

"Don't be stupid," she said, still giggling. She lifted one side of the covers and motioned for me to get in. "Don't get any ideas. And don't touch me. Like, at all."

I smiled huge, and got into bed with her.

"I mean it. Don't touch me," she said, scooting to the other side of the bed.

"Okay," I returned, moving closer in and spooning her.

She didn't stop me.

And that's how we fell asleep, with her back against my chest, and my arms wrapped around her around her.

SIXTEEN

Logan

"Dimmy!"

I got pushed out of a warm bed and onto the floor, landing with a thud, which fucking hurt.

When I opened my eyes, she was leaning over the bed, looking down at me. Her eyes were wide, her hand covering her laugh.

"Dimmy!" Ethan called again.

It was morning.

"Yeah!" she replied, her index finger over her lips telling me to be quiet. Like I could freaking talk over the pain searing through my body right now. "I'm getting ready for class, you have the day off, yeah? You don't need a ride?"

"Yeah, I'm good," she yelled back, containing in her laugh.

"Have you seen Logan? He didn't come home last night. I hope you didn't freak him out and he changed his mind."

"Who cares!" she yelled, smiling right at me. "Fuck him. He's an asshole!"

I shook my head at her, and then pulled her by her jersey until she landed on top of me.

"You're so mean," I whispered in her ear, then started tickling her sides.

She squealed and started squirming, trying to get out of my hold.

Then we both froze abruptly, because I was hard, and she could feel it.

"Get dressed, climb out the window, and then knock on the front door."

Then she was off me and walking out of the room.

Climb out the fucking window? What am I? Fourteen?

I did it anyway, because like I said; my balls—her pockets.

Ten minutes later we were all seated and having breakfast.

"I gotta go buy some shit today, you guys need anything?" I asked.

"What kind of shit?" Ethan said with a mouth full of cereal.

I tried to make a list in my head. "Everything. I guess I need all the furniture for my room, bathroom stuff. I need to buy a new computer and stereo system. Shit...everything."

"It is true!" Ethan barked out. "One of my boys told me your room at the house got trashed. He said a bunch of guys went there and did some damage. You screwed the wrong guy’s sister one too many times or something?"

Amanda's eyes bugged out as she choked on her food. She got up and made her way to the sink.

Ethan eyed her like she was crazy. "Anyway," he continued, "you should take Dimmy with you, she loves shopping for that kind of stuff. She has an eye for it, you know?" Then he looked over at her. "Oh hey, maybe Luca will be working at the Apple store. He's been asking about you again. Just put the kid out of his misery and go out with him already." He got up and washed his bowl. "I'm out, I'll see you guys tonight."

***

She was wiping down the counter, when I approached her. "So, can you come with me today? I mean, if you don't have plans. I could really use the help." I hoped to God she said yes. I'd do whatever she wanted if it meant that I could spend the day with her.

She turned around and faces me. "Two truths for fifteen time?"

I smiled at her. She remembered. I nodded my head and jumped up on the counter, waiting for her question.

"Is it true? They trashed your room because you couldn't keep your dick in your pants?"

I shrugged. "I guess. I didn't really hang around to find out." I hated that she knew that.

I waited for more, but she didn't say anything else. So it was my turn, "Where were you last year? I looked around for you but I—"

She interrupted before I could finish, "I had to stay home. Well, one of us had to, so I did."

She started to walk away but I held her back with a grip on her arm. "It's called two truths for fifteen. We need to talk about it for fifteen minutes, remember?"

She nodded, and inhaled deeply, "Some shit went down at home. I guess Mom found out Dad had been cheating on her since, well, forever." She shrugged like it was no big deal. "Mom—she kind of lost it. Got into drinking, heavily. She lost her job, her car, nearly the house. Dad took everything worth anything and just bailed with his latest mistress. He hasn't looked back. So it was tough times. I stayed and worked full time, studied at the community college when I could. Helped Mom with whatever she needed."

"And Ethan?"

"Ethan got to go to college. I'm only a semester behind in classes. Hopefully I'll be able to make it up and graduate the same time."

"Still childcare?"

"Yup."

"Still want to be a midwife though?"

She looked at me now, like she was trying to work something out. "You remember?"

"I haven't forgotten a single thing about you, Amanda."