Page 109 of The Logic of Loyalty

Easy enough. “I’ll get you a car.”

“No, I don’t want that.”

“Bethany, come on.”

She sits up straighter. “No. I don’t want to be taken care of. I want to buy my own car. I want to earn my own stuff.” My phone rings, cutting her off. I check it and ignore it. “I have a week to figure it out.”

“Why don’t you talk to Carter or Billy about a car? They can help find you something cheap but reliable. You can borrow one of ours until then. I also know a guy who can help keep it running for you if you have any issues.”

“Carter and Billy?”

“Me, dweeb.”

A giant grin breaks across her face. “That’s the one.” Her face is warm, open, and filled with joy.

“What?”

“Dweeb. We need to do insults. That’s our familial affection, dork.”

“Huh. That actually does work. Weird.”

We drift into a comfortable silence, broken by my phone ringing again. I glance at it and ignore it again. I’ll block him later.

“Who is⁠—”

“Our father.” She nods. “Have you talked to Paige?”

“About the hand necklace? Yes. God, there are things that a sister does not need to know.” I choke on my last sip of my drink. “She”—cough—“told you about that?”

“Oh, Lord. She wouldn’t shut up about it. I tuned most of it out.”

“I—well, okay. I meant—” I shake my head to get that image out of my mind. “I meant about everything that happened between us.”

“Everything everything? Like, the whole reason all of this started? Yeah.” I wait, but she doesn’t elaborate.

“Bethany.”

“It’s not my business.”

Damn. “Where is she this morning?”

She points to the door behind me. “In bed. She was exhausted last night after telling me all the things I never wanted to hear.”

“I’m sorry⁠—”

“Oh my God. Okay. Listen, I’m done with apologies for the past. If you mess up in the future, please apologize. I’m over the past. I’m moving on. I’m growing. You’re growing. We are all growing.”

A door opens behind me and I sit up straighter. “You will never guess the dream—oh.” Paige halts, standing in her short robe, her curly hair everywhere. She catches her breath when she sees us talking and drinking coffee. An unreadable look crosses her features. “Trevor, hi.” A flush rises on her cheeks when her eyes drift across me, and I have an immediate physical response. Chill the fuck out, body.

Bethany stands at her entrance. “I’m out of here. Y’all have a good day. I’m going to go for a walk. Maybe hatch some Pokémon eggs.” I stand and give her a hug.

“You’re incredible, and I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner.”

“Stop. Apologizing.” She puts her mug in the dishwasher and grabs her phone before heading out the door. “Have a good day, kiddos!”

The house looks better than the last time I was here. Cleaner, more put-together.

“Checking in on her?”