3volve Read Online Free Page B

in the driveway. I turn around and hold my hand out to stop them from getting out, “Wait here while I see who it is.” It had better not be Aunt Marie; she’s such a Nosy Nancy.
    They both nod and lean their heads on their own windows.
    I walk slowly up to the house to check the door. It's already open. I yell, annoyed, “I’m not in the mood!” into the main hallway.
    “I thought you could use some company, and food,” Charlie smirks from the kitchen. “Where are the boys?” he asks, looking behind me.
    “I told them to wait in the car. Wait, I thought you were in a meeting?” I ask, looking at his suitcase and duffel on the kitchen table.
    “Meetings can be cancelled,” he says, putting away his luggage, “I was leaving the airport when I called you.”
    “Thanks for being such a good friend.” I clasp his hand in mine.
    It feels like he winces slightly but recovers quickly, “Well go get them already!” he laughs. “I’m sure they could use a pick-me-up.”
    I smile gratefully at him and wrap my arms around him. “Thank you for being you.”
    “Always,” he whispers in my ear.
    I squeeze him tightly before I run out to the car.
    “Guys, Charlie has food for us. Let's eat, okay?” I tell them opening the car door.
    “When are we going to see Mom and Dad?” Jeremiah asks, pulling on Jeremy’s hoodie to pull his head off the window.
    “Soon. Okay?” I ruffle his hair.
    Charlie ordered Chinese and he tries to occupy our thoughts, but it’s all still too fresh in our minds. The boys hardly touch their food, excusing themselves to go to their room. I haven’t even been in town for five hours and already I’m doing a horrible job.
    “You’re doing fine, you know that right?” Charlie hands me a fortune cookie.
    “Yeah right.” I break it open and read my fortune: Circumstance does not make the man, it reveals him to himself.
    Well great, I’m not a man. Stupid fortune cookie. I throw it back down on the table.
    “I can’t stay long because I have a work thing tomorrow.” He breaks open his fortune cookie and reads the fortune silently, then places it in his pocket.
    “I know. Thanks for coming; you didn’t have to.”
    “Oh I had to. Have you ever kept anything alive longer than a week?” he asks, biting into his fortune cookie.
    “I object! Of course I have.” I scramble my mind to think of examples before he can battle me.
    “Really?” he laughs. “Name one.” He picks up my fortune cookie and eats it.
    I’m still thinking of all the pets and plants I’ve had over the years. Oh, I know! “The plant Nessa gave me when we graduated high school. That thing lived for like months in our new place,” I smile proudly.
    “That’s because I watered it for you.” He shakes his head.
    “Liar,” I say, hurt, crossing my arms.
    “I’m not! I totally watered it every time I went over. Then I left for winter break. After I came back it was dead.”
    I scrunch my face, “Oh yeah, it did die on winter break.” I shake my head stubbornly, “It doesn’t prove anything though.”
    “You killed a cactus for crying out loud. Are you sure you can handle two teenage boys? You know you have to feed them and keep them away from sharp objects, right?” He laughs again at my predicament.
    “Hardy, har, har.” I throw my spring roll at him, but he dodges it.
    He pulls me into a hug instead, “I know this is hard, but if there’s anything I can do, will you let me know?” he says into my ear. The heat from his breath tickles my neck, and I forget to answer his question.
    “Cris,” he whispers hoarsely against the nape of my neck.
    “I will,” I finally answer him, backing away.
    “I have a few things to take care of tomorrow at home before I can come back for the funeral, so I should go.” He kisses the top of my head. “Make sure to call Nessa and let her know what’s happening or she’ll end up worrying.”
    “I’ll do it tonight,” I assure him. I walk behind him to