Locked Away (Living With Lies Book 2) (34 page)

“Well, what do you want to do? Play a board game? Go swimming? Are you two hungry? We can have an early dinner.”

Without thinking, I blurt out, “Why are you being nice to us?” Mandy pauses for a mo-ment, her beautiful smile fading into a frown.

“Why wouldn’t I be nice to you?”

My eyes unconsciously narrow at her question, but Tanner speaks up to answer her. “Be-cause people aren’t nice unless they want something.”

Mandy’s eyes slowly drift shut. When they open again, I can see the fire in them. “Where I’m from, we’re nice to everyone because you treat others how you want to be treated. I’m nice to you because I expect you to treat me the same way.” Neither Tanner nor I say a word in re-turn. That’s definitely not how life works here.

“Maybe next summer you boys can come spend time in Colorado and we can get to know you better.”

Mandy’s warm smile returns, and at this point I’m positive I will go anywhere this lady asks me to. “Let me go get you guys a snack and then we’ll go swimming. Can you boys watch Kate for me while I grab something from the kitchen?”

Mandy kisses the little green-eyed girl on the forehead before placing her in a chair across from us then walks off.

I look over at Tanner, but like normal, he’s staring off, lost somewhere in his own head while he avoids our surroundings. I sneak another look at the little girl only to find her closely watching me. My heart speeds up again while I draw in a deep breath of air. I’m doing my best to shake off the strange feeling I have as I tear my eyes away from hers. Looking at her is the same as looking directly at the sun. It’s hard to do for more than a few seconds. I lean my head against the back of the couch and close my eyes. While I’m doing everything in my power to avoid looking at this little girl, she hops down out of her chair and climbs up next to me. I didn’t know this until she slips her small hand into mine and gives mine a firm squeeze.

I want to pull back. I meant to pull back, but her touch is soothing in a way I didn’t know was possible. My heart continues to beat against my chest as my mind starts to relax. I’m sit-ting here staring down at our connected hands when I hear her start to hum the same tune her mother had just a few moments ago.

When I finally gain the courage to look up, I find those emerald eyes burning into mine, but it’s the way Kate is smiling at me that I know I’ll never forget. Like maybe...just maybe, I matter to someone.