Page 29 of Stoney Gazes for Helpful Gorgons

I nod, not really knowing what that means.

"All right, I'm going to go talk to the others."

Jack sighs. "She probably means I need to message my dad."

"I don't think she meant anything specific. I don't think we've been spending that much time together, have we?"

"All my other friends remember who I am," he responds. "So that's a good start. And yours were all at your birthday last week."

"Exactly." I pick up my slushie and take a sip. "Though there was something Sage said that I've been thinking about."

"Oh?"

"Well, after we left the club, she figured we went home."

"We did," he points out.

"Together."

"To...ah."

I clear my throat. "I know it's nothing, but maybe we're giving off some kind of vibe that there's more between us."

"Maybe. But does it matter if we are? I'm not planning on dating, and you said you don't want to either, so maybe it's okay if we're putting off a vibe."

"Good point." I smile. "I don't want to date anyone." Saying the words out loud sounds weird. I've said them plenty of times, and thought them even more. But this time, something seems off, like the statement isn't entirely true.

I push the thought aside. It's best if I don't examine it here. Right now, I need to focus on the conversation at hand.

"Don't let Bobbi get in your head," Jack says.

"How did you know what I was thinking?"

He shrugs. "Because I'm probably thinking the same thing. We're not becoming codependent or anything and are both maintaining our friendships with other people. Or at least, I am. I'm guessing you are too."

I nod. "I actually feel like I'm doing a better job than when I started coming here."

"Not surprising. You're processing your feelings, right?"

"Yeah. I still miss Granny."

"You're always going to," he points out. "She's not exactly replaceable."

"No, I guess not."

"But hopefully, one day it'll just be about missing her rather than it being painful," he muses.

I reach out and touch his arm. It's comforting to see someone who has been going through this longer still feeling their emotions, but daunting at the same time. Six months feels like a long time to me, and that's how far ahead of me he is in his journey of grief. It seems like it's going to be a long hard journey for me too. Even if I don't want it to be.

But I'd rather that than not mourn the woman who helped make me who I am.

Chapter 13

JACK

I finish getting ready and check my phone to see if Rhea is telling me she's about to arrive, but the message icon is missing from my phone. She's probably just running late.

The expected knock comes on my door and my heart skips a beat. "Come in."