The mall was busier than I expected.
It was the weekend, so I probably should have seen that coming, but the moment we stepped through the entrance, I was surrounded by families, couples, groups of teenagers, and people carrying enough shopping bags to make me wonder if some of them had practically moved in.
Esme walked beside me with her hands tucked into the sleeves of her oversized hoodie. She kept looking around, taking in the crowds and the stores without staying focused on anything for too long. Every time someone walked a little too close to us, her shoulders tightened before she quietly moved closer to my side.
Cora walked on my other side.
The three of us had been together for almost ten minutes, and nobody had managed to say anything more complicated than where we were going.
The awkwardness was almost impressive.
I glanced between the two sisters, and Esme noticed. "Hmm."
"What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
