Red_Roses_and_Black_Dahlias_-_Macy_T

was an old black Camaro. Papa would have said she was beautiful. He loved
cars.
Thinking of him always brought a wave of sadness through me. I missed
him.
“Look, just give it a chance.” Sammie pulled me out of my thoughts and I
turned towards her. “You know my mama got a foster home, right? Well a lot
of the kids actually come from really fucking broken families and shitty
backgrounds. They basically all have therapists, nothing to be ashamed of if
you ask me. I’ve seen the progress they made just talking to someone. You
really should give it more thought.” She shrugged.
I smiled, grateful for her insight. “Thank you, babe. For listening to my
rant.” She smirked and was about to answer when her brother honked.
She groaned and turned around. “One fucking second, Aiden! I’m
coming!” Rolling her eyes she turned back to me. “Can you believe he’s
actually my little brother? Well, only by a few months, but still. Little shit
works at a garage and built this baby back from scratch over the summer.
Now he got a ride and I still don’t.” She shook her head as I watched,
amused. “Anyways, I better go. Take care.” She smacked a kiss on my cheek
and started walking to the car as I watched, my gaze lost in the distance.
I sighed and started back towards my own car. Maybe Sammie was right.
I was home and getting started on dinner when the front door opened and
slammed close. I startled, nearly dropping the bowl of pasta I had just
cooked. Angry little steps resounded in the apartment as I saw Valentina pass
right in front of me without sparing me a glance. Her little face was drawn in
a frown, eyebrows pulled down on her forehead and lips pinched together.
She continued until disappearing in the hallway and I heard the door of her
bedroom slam shut too.
Right at that moment, the front door opened again and a confused looking
Maddox stepped in.
***