Chapter 8: Unspoken Confessions

Smart people have their own ways of solving problems.

After a whole morning of studying, I handed him the leftover chocolate milk from Saturday.

"Thanks for helping me study. Here’s something to keep you going."

He suddenly looked at me seriously.

"That day, I wasn’t helping Mallory. She’s just young and stubborn—no one can force her to accept anything. I promised her parents I’d look after her…"

I interrupted, "Are Main Street’s breakfast sandwiches good?"

He was caught off guard.

I twisted open the milk cap and said casually, "Unfortunately, my route to school doesn’t go by there, so I’ve never had their bacon and spinach sandwiches."

A breeze drifted through the library window, blowing his long fingers down onto the new practice test.

The smell of books and coffee drifted between us. My heart pounded a little faster.

"I’ll bring them for you tomorrow," he said. "As a thank-you."