“I’m sorry,” I said.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Mark said.
I frowned. “That’s not true. I—”
“Ox?”
I looked back at Elizabeth. “You’re sixteen,” she said. “You’re allowed to go on dates. Just maybe give Joe a heads-up?”
I nodded.
“You hungry?” she asked.
I nodded again, even though I really wasn’t. I just wanted to go inside with all of them.
“Why don’t you take him upstairs and I’ll heat up some leftovers. Then you can tell us about this pretty girl of yours.”
I followed them inside.
I STAYED with Joe. For a little bit. Just to make sure he didn’t have bad dreams.
THE NEXT day, he taught me how to text. He was my first.
hi joe its ox texting you thank you for helping me
It took me five minutes to type because my fingers were too big. I wouldn’t let him read it while I fat-fingered it out.
When I finished, his phone pinged almost immediately and I marveled just how quickly words could be sent. It was a scary thought.
He read the message and laughed so hard he fell down, tears in his eyes.
LATER THAT night, I got my first text:
You help me too
claws and teeth/laugh out loud
I TURNED seventeen and said good-bye to my junior year. Three solid months of work and pack and Jessie stretched out before me. I didn’t quite believe things were happening the way they were. It seemed too good. Too much like a dream.
Things were normal for a while.
Gordo said, “It’ll be good to have you back here all day again.”
Mom said, “Think we should talk about getting you some wheels? I’m sure Gordo could help us out.”
“Happy birthday!” they all said.
Carter said, “I really need to get laid.”
Kelly said, “That’s something I never wanted to hear.”
Tanner said, “Can you call Mrs. Epstein and let her know the Jeep’s finished? I fucking busted my knuckle and it’s bleeding all over.”
Elizabeth said, “I’ve moved on from my green phase. It’s time. I’m thinking Picasso and blue. What do you think, Ox?”
Rico said, “I’m glad you’re back full-time, papi. Gordo is much nicer when you’re her
e.”