They parked down the street from the cul-de-sac where Maria’s parents lived. It was a busy neighborhood on a busy Christmas night, with the sounds of merriment spilling out of open front doors. A light dusting of snow swirled on the pavement with heavy snow clouds reflecting the light of Chicago in the distance. “You grew up a Britechester kid. Fancy.”
“Fancy?”
“Yeah, us Copper Hill-billies thought the Britechester kids were so rich. It’s like, practically Chicago.”
Jordan’s humble upbringing wasn’t the only reason he felt nervous about tonight. “So, how many people know that I ran out west and came crawling back home like a loser?”
Maria frowned. “Aw, don’t say it like that.”
He shrugged. Was it not true?
“Me,” she said. “Well, but I only told Lou, I swear.”
“Okay.”
“But Lou is dating Jamie. And Jamie’s sister is dating Ingrid’s brother now, and obviously they know Ingrid went with you, and you know how Ingrid is. So, sorry, probably everyone knows.”
Good thing she could cradle this tiny puppy in one arm, because she needed the other hand to take hold of Jordan and drag him into the house, because for sure he was thinking about running away.
“They’re gonna love you,” she said.
It wasn’t a lie, exactly—it was hope.
