Page 140 of Trailer Trash

Killian: Please pick up

Outgoing call.

Outgoing call.

Killian: IF YOU WOULD JUST PICK UP THE PHONE

They’re unending.

And one-sided.

Asher never responds.

“What is this, Killian?”

Silence.

I keep scrolling. Finally, way at the top, messages from Asher.

Asher: lol meet me at brax’s

Asher: party tonight

Killian: right on

Asher: bring some cash so we can get loud

Killian: I will

Asher: Good cuz dad froze my trust payments

Killian: ya mom said she would talk to him

Asher: lol shes awesome

The last message from Asher.

I look at the date.

Five years ago.

“So Asher... he’s your brother,” I whisper.

“Mm-hm. We’re identical twins.” Killian stares at me, jaw set tight.

“I didn’t know you had a twin. Why didn’t you tell me? Why doesn’t he respond?”

“He does sometimes.”

My stomach drops because I remember the way Killian talked about Asher — his best friend. Like Asher was still here. Like Asher still answered.

“Come on, Killian. He doesn’t reply anymore.”

He grabs the phone, sudden and fiercely. Something empties behind his eyes. The anger disappears so completely that it frightens me more than the shouting did.

I stare at the carpet, unsure how to ask something so difficult.

As if he knows what I’m thinking, he speaks first.