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“My sister,” I say for an introduction. “This is Cash. He works here once a week.”

“Just one day? What’s even the point? Hi, I’m Connie, former brains of the operation, as is evidenced by the brainlessness of the current operation. Just joshin’ ya,” she quickly says with way too forceful a nudge into my side, “but seriously, spend a little more to make a little more. Kids need summer allowances. You going off to college, Mr. Cashmere?”

Cash appears entirely in love with and dignified by the lovely moniker. “I don’t think so, ma’am.”

“Don’t you got dreams? What are they? Staying home mowing lawns all year? Nothing wrong with mowing lawns, mind you, it’s honest work, but with a face like yours, I can get you into twelve different PR firms. I have friends.”

“Don’t listen to her,” I beg him.

“Do you do social media? Everything’s social media nowadays. Give me five minutes, I’ll have you job interviews lined up. But you have got to get yourself into higher-level education, my man.” She slaps the counter, waking us both up. “Dream big, Mr. Cashmere.”

Cash nods slowly, mouth slack.

I’m pulling out my hair.

It’s after work—which feels like twelve hours later for some reason I will resist naming—that we walk all the way back to the house, and while she unpacks her things on my bed, she drills me. “How much do you actually make, babe? How’s the overhead? I’m not even gonna ask when your last vacation was, because I already know. I’m honestly stunned you do the deliveries yourself. I mean, yay for small-town charm, but don’t you ever dream of expanding someday?” She turns to face me. “Why are you still running that place like the little flower shop Mom and Dad left behind?”

The thing with my sister is, I don’t even have to participate in the conversation. I can just relax against a doorframe, head leaned on it, eyes half open, and let her do the talking for us both.

It’s been like this since we were kids.

And is it the craziest thing that the worst part of my day was Diego not showing up to ruin it?

At this point, he’d be my savior.

I’d welcome a soul-crushing argument with him right now.

Anything at all to give my sister something else to focus on other than how devastated she is by a day in my life.

“I’m coming at you a bit much, huh?”

I blink out of my thoughts. “What? No.”

“Don’t lie. I’ve been all over you since the second I came in.” She lets out a laugh that collapses into a sigh. “I’m just the worst, aren’t I? I ain’t even given you a proper—Hey, c’mere.”

Then she’s on me. Her arms around me.

Squeezing until I can’t breathe.

“You’re doing your best, right? Mom and Dad would be proud. Don’t listen to a dang thing I said. You’re just fine.” She goes back to her luggage. “But, y’know, if you do listen to some stuff, I’m just sayin’ I won’t be mad about it. I do give good advice.”

I put on a smile. “Thanks, sis.”

“Don’t mention it.”

She didn’t even ask. She took over the main bedroom. The last time she visited, two years ago right after Mom and Dad left, I let her stay in the main bedroom while I took the guestroom. Now the guestroom is full of … stuff, we’ll say … and it’d be quite a chore to clear it out for her. So I don’t bother.

Besides, I just proved sleeping on the couch isn’t so bad two nights ago, didn’t I?

When I slept with my head on Diego’s lap.

Curled up and perfectly happy.

Did he pet my hair, or am I imagining that part?

“Bro!” she cries out suddenly, facing me. “It’s Saturday night! What are your friends doing? Let’s do one of your movie nights!”

Oh, god, no. “Everyone’s … I’m pretty sure everyone’s kind of … Tomorrow morning’s church, and …”