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“But your parents were still around, weren’t they?”
“It’s kind of a long story.”
“We’ll be in this Rover at least ten minutes with all the lights now.” She gestures to the traffic signal impatiently.
Tracing my fingernail along the seam of the leather seat, I think of how to say this. “My dad kind of lost interest after Edward’s diagnosis, and my mom started drinking all the time.”
Her lips pull into a frown, and she reaches over to squeeze my hand. “I’m sorry.”
“They might’ve hired someone to care for him, but they didn’t. I could’ve ignored him, but I didn’t.” I swallow the ache in my throat. “I played with him and kept him in my room when he was awake. Then when he got older, I took him with me everywhere. He wasn’t hard to manage. He was actually pretty easy… just different.”
“Sounds like Zane and me.” Dylan’s voice is thoughtful. “Our mother wanted to spend time with us, but I guess with five kids, it’s hard.”
“At least she wanted to have a relationship with you.”
“But now you and Edward are totally bonded, right?”
I exhale a laugh. “Yeah, and I have no life.”
Her nose wrinkles. “That part kind of stinks.”
“It was like I had a baby at sixteen, and trust me, the guys weren’t interested in my younger brother spouting little-known facts about everything all the time.”
“I guess that does put a damper on your social life.”
“Yeah,” I look down, remembering those days. “I read a lot, and I watched a lot of YouTube videos.”
“We all did that,” she laughs. “But then you went to college, right?”
“Night school. I worked every day at the nursing home. Not a lot of guys there.”
“Wait—are you telling me you’ve never had a boyfriend?” Her eyes widen, and I feel like I’ve made a critical error.
“No.”
“So you have?”
“No.”
“I’m confused.”
Waving my hands, I explain fast. “I haven’t had a boyfriend, and I’m not looking for one. That’s not what I meant. I shouldn’t have even said that.”
“Oh-kaay, but I heard Sam Allen was hanging around you the other night. He’s really nice.”
“Dylan, seriously. No. I’m not interested in Sam Allen.” The memory of Zane’s lips covering mine, tugging and pulling them, our tongues curling together, his strong arms around my waist, my entire lower belly flooding with heat…
She gives me the side-eye. “You’re thinking about somebody.”
“Edward.” My voice is firm. “I’m thinking about Edward and getting him all set up at school.”And keeping my dad off my case.
Exhaling slowly, I confess, “I can’t help feeling like what happened to him at school was partly my fault.”
“You can’t go to school with him, Rach.” She gives me a sympathetic smile.
“I know.” My fingers twist, and I study my hands. “But maybe leaving him behind scared him. He’s never done anything like that before.”
“And you can’t get any help from your dad?” Her expression is perplexed, and I figure now’s as good a time as any.
