Dad argues, “He’ll want to be there.”
“I don’t know about that,” I chuckle. “He’s obsessed with that movie.”
“I really don’t understand how he got it into his head to tell my story. What is the big fascination?”
I could go into all the reasons but I know Dad’s just blowing off steam by getting irritated.
“You still not going to watch it?”
He makes a face like he’d rather chew on dog shit. “Are you kidding, Caden? I will never watch it. Remember, I lived that mess.”
Chuckling at his stubbornness I rise. “I’m going to bed. Galvanizing the troops tomorrow. It’s going to be Cockers for miles in my apartment. You know everyone’s going to show up as soon as they hear.”
Dad stands, too, but Mom stays put, asking me, “Breakfast? I’ll wake up as early as you want and make your favorite pancakes.”
“That’d be great. Five o’clock too early?”
“Anything you need.”
“You coming, Sarah?” Dad asks her.
“Not yet. I like watching the last bits of fire. I’ll snuff it out before I join you, though, don’t worry.”
“I wasn’t worried.” He gives her a peck on the lips and follows me upstairs. “Your blanket is probably dusty. Let me get you a new one.”
CHAPTER 27
C ADEN
F rom the linen closet he pulls down an old burgundy comforter that used to be fluffier. But as I bring it to my nose out of habit, it smells clean and cozy, and my repressed exhaustion settles in.
“Thanks, Dad.”
Clapping my shoulder, he says with feeling, “I’m glad you’re staying the night.”
I pat his fingers and we head off in separate directions, clearing our throats.
A dozen framed photos of our family pass me along the way to my old room. There’s a larger version of the one I had in my locker. Every sibling but Hunter has that, because he wasn’t born yet so he’s not in it. He grumbles about it every now and then.
There’s a photo of Mom and Dad in front of a bookcase he built for her when she moved into his loft, where Max now calls home. Another of Mom on a rug, redheaded baby Lexi asleep on her chest. One where seven-year-old Samantha is showing off her dance recital costume without knowing that I’m holding rabbit ears behind her head, Max covering his mouth, laughing in the background, too. The high school photos are the best, especially of Hunter who hated having his picture taken. Any evidence he exists is unacceptable.
My personal favorite is of me and Max laughing on the night of his Senior Prom. I was dating a senior when I was a junior, so we rented the limo to take our dates together, but Dad pranked us by getting us a hot pink stretch. We lost our shit, and this picture is awesome. Those girls were not amused. They didn’t last. If you don’t have a sense of humor, you won’t last in this family.
My mind flies back to Elizabeth.
Mood soured, my teeth get the enamel nearly scraped off by a spare toothbrush I unwrap. Mom buys extras so there’s always one available for guests.
I rub soap on my face way too fucking hard, too. The bar goes flying, though I meant to place it on the disk. I have to dig for it under a fake plant, wash it off while swearing under my minty breath.
She chose Janet over me.
I knew she would.
It wasn’t long ago that I told my cousin Nicholas about Janet. When was it? Before Sofia’s wedding I know that. And here I go, thrown away in a transfer just like I knew I would be.
“Fucking sucks,” I grumble, drying off my face, shaking my head.
I walk into the hallway, and freeze at the sound of Mom quietly crying downstairs.
Their bedroom door opens and I step back inside the bathroom, my breath held with shock. Dad didn’t see me, but by the pace of his descent, he just heard her, too.
As soon as he’s gone I tiptoe out so I can hear their conversation.
“Sarah? Are you crying?”
She sniffles, “No.”
“Yes, you are,” he gently says.
“Did you see Max?! How every time Caden wasn’t looking, how sad his eyes were?”
“I did notice that. Max will feel this the most.”
“I don’t want him to leave, Jason. I know it’s a good opportunity, but... my baby’s leaving!”
I hear fabric moving, because he’s gathered her up and is probably cradling her on his lap. “Look at you, Sarah, and here I thought you weren’t affected.”
“I had to be strong! He was breaking apart, and he can’t start this new chapter of his life like that. Caden’s competitive. You know he always has been. If I acted like this isn’t a big deal, like he should be stronger, then of course he would become that, just to prove to me he could. Oh, Jason!”
Her sobs are killing me.
I’ve got tears streaming.
Can’t let her know.
This is a private moment for her.
For them.
Wiping my cheeks, I tiptoe to my old room, silently shut the door. She took the hit. Everyone was mad at her, even Lexi. I’m going to tell them what she did.
A text vibrates my pocket:
Caden, it’s Elizabeth. How are you doing?
We’ve never texted outside of work-related messages. Not once. Without pausing, my thumbs slam out the reply:
Fuck you.
I stare at it…slowly delete each letter. After a moment of intense deliberation, my thumbs work a little bit more.
Why did you do this? You like me that much?
I delete this one, too, and toss temptation onto a chair next to the bowling ball that no longer fits these fingers. Everything is how I left it when I moved out. A time capsule of my youth.
Lying on my bed, sleep won’t come easy. I end up staring
