Free Slowly We Trust by Chelsea M. Cameron

babysitter right now.” She gave me a wide smile.
    “I don’t need a babysitter, you know.” I moved my hand to push my hair over my shoulder and then I realized that it was still in the braid Katie had made earlier.
    “I know, but I’m really terrible with this being-friends-with-girls stuff, and Lottie and Katie have experience, blah, blah, blah. What do you say we get you out of this room? I know it’s hard right now. I remember when Ric died, all I wanted to do was live in bed forever, but Max got me up and out and it helped. Even if I hated him at the time. So come on. Get dressed in real clothes and we’ll go somewhere.” She smacked me on the knee and gave me a look that said there was no room for argument.
    I climbed off my bed and went to grab some “real” clothes. I’d put on yoga pants and a baggy sweatshirt after my shower earlier.
    Trish turned her back as I stripped and put on a pair of dark jeans and a cream sweater.
    “Better?” I asked and she turned around.
    “You really need some more color in your wardrobe. I know you’re preparing to be a fancy lawyer and all, but you’re young. You should make bold fashion choices while you still can. Maybe Katie and I could team up and do a makeover, even though our tastes are completely different.”
    I could admit that Katie had done a great job with Lottie, and Trish had the kind of effortless, daring style that I knew I couldn’t pull off. But it might keep them (and me) busy and not thinking about things.
    “Fine. I’m sure Lottie is tired of being Katie’s human Barbie. Might as well give her a break.”
    “That’s the spirit,” Trish said, patting me on the shoulder as we walked to the parking lot where one of Stryker’s “project” cars was parked.
    “So how is Stryker enjoying his freedom?” Stryker had technically finished school last semester, but he was sticking around to be with Katie and he’d gotten a job as a teaching assistant and a part time internship with the lab on campus.
    “He’s been insufferable lately. I liked him more when he was all brooding and quiet and smoked too much. Now he’s all . . .” she waved her hand in the air, searching for the right word.
    “Happy?” I supplied.
    “Yeah. It’s unnatural. I’m not used to my brother smiling and laughing so much. Which is pretty twisted if you think about it.”
    “That is pretty twisted,” I said as she turned her car on, cursing at it a few times before it rumbled to life.
    “I thought Stryker fixed it?”
    “He did, but this car has decided to screw me over. It’s sort of a battle of wills, but I’m not going down without a fight. Do you hear that?” She yelled the last part at the dashboard.
    “So where are we going?” Trish shook her head as she pulled out of the lot and drove onto the main road in and out of campus.
    “Uh uh. I’m not telling you. It would ruin the surprise.” She started fiddling with the crackling radio, skipping to the next station before I could even figure out what song was playing.
    “I thought you said you were cheering me up. You should probably know that I don’t like surprises.” I hated them, honestly. When I was a kid, I always found my birthday and Christmas presents where my parents hid them just because I couldn’t stand not knowing what they were, and how to react to getting them.
    That never stopped Will from surprising me though . . .
    “Surprises are good for you. Get you out of your comfort zone. And I think this will be especially good for you.” She had a smirk on her face that was making very uncomfortable.
    When I’d first met Trish, I didn’t think I’d have anything in common with her, but then I found out about her family situation and that she was really sweet under the angry eye makeup and orange hair and tattoos. Plus, she had a soft spot for gooey romantic books, and she was one of those people who was always doing sweet things for others, but didn’t want anyone to know about it.