I would have thought Eddie was one of the best people I'd ever known even without hearing it from Beverly, but it was nice, knowing she thought so, too. Of course they had history together, a friendship from home I didn't know that much about except that they'd hung out together at the quarry. Beverly knew him so much better than I did.

"He's really easy to talk to," I admitted, looking down at my shoes as we walked. I couldn't look at Beverly and say any of this. Already my cheeks were so red they felt like they were on fire and I reached up to rub my face with my palm. "Being around him just- it makes me feel happy."

My next words were practically a whisper, but I made myself say them out loud for the first time. "And I like how he looks."