I wasn't used to it – the laughter, the teasing, the way she made me smile even when we disagreed. For me, it was a new sensation.I loved it.
But that didn't satisfy my curiosity. "So, are you gonna answer the question?"
With mock confusion, she replied, "There was a question?"
"You know there was." Still I repeated the gist of it. "With the roommate, why didn't you see the trouble sooner?"
"So you really want to know?"
"If I didn't, I wouldn't be asking."
Again, her tone grew speculative. "If I tell you, will you tellmea secret in return?"
Nowthatgot my attention. "So it's a secret, huh?"
"Maybe not a secret." She paused. "More like a theory."
"Go ahead. I'm all ears."
"Oh yeah?" she teased. "I know that feeling."
"How about this?" I said. "You tell me this theory of yours, and I'll tell you something in return."
"Like what?"
"Something nobody else knows."
That made her pause. "No kidding?"
"No kidding."
And I knew just the thing I'd tell her.
Chapter 57
Becka
It was an intriguing offer.From the passenger's seat, I studied his face in profile. "So it's a secret?"
"You could say that."
"What is it?" I asked.
He smiled. "You first."
I loved his smile. I recalled how rare those had been in the beginning. Some days they werestillrare.Not today.
And now I didn't want to ruin it by dwelling on things that I couldn’t change. "Actually, I'm not sure we should talk about it."
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because it's such a nice day, and I'll probably get all morbid. Nobody wants that, right?"
"Morbid how?"
"Oh, you know. Depressing." Still, I forced a smile. "So actually, maybe we should just talk about the weather or something."
The whole weather topic had become a longstanding joke. I waited for him to laugh, or at least smile.
