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He hums. “Our parents aren’t the only people in our lives, and their opinions aren’t the only ones influencing us.” God, now he sounds so grown-up, it’s scary. “You can run as far away as you want, Kay. The main thing is to know what you believe and stick to it, right?” Before I reply, he calls out something, and huffs. “Okay, gotta go, Mom’s been calling me down for dinner for the past ten minutes, and I’ll get the lecture if I don’t hurry.”
There. Now he’s back to sounding like a teenager again. That’s kind of a relief.
“Go,” I tell him magnanimously. “Say hi to your girlfriend from me.”
“Will do,” he replies, “and we have to meet soon!”
Smiling to myself, I disconnect the call and flip one last card.
Seven of Pentacles. Perseverance. Faith. Vision.
Right. I open a cupboard to make myself some hot cocoa. Faith. I haven’t called Ocean, though God knows I want to.
Why not, then?
Putting down my mug, I pull up his number and hit call. It rings once, twice, and then he answers.
“Raine?” he rumbles. “That you?”
“No,” I say. “It’s Kay.”
Man, I wish that brat of a brother he has could see how lucky he is to have Ocean as a brother.
“Kay.” His voice goes quiet. “What’s up?”
“Just checking on you. Have you tried on the T-shirt? Does it fit?”
“I haven’t tried it.”
“Oh.” That makes me frown. “Why not?”
“I didn’t want to dirty it.” He sounds so serious. There’s a vulnerability in his voice that tugs at me.
“You can wash it.”
He says nothing.
“What about the pills? Did you take them?”
“Oh yeah.” He chuckles, and the deep sound makes me tremble. It makes my nipples stiffen and my toes curl. Jeez, this boy.
“And?”
“Loopy. I think…” He laughs again. “I think I’m kinda high.”
I laugh, too. “Are you dizzy?”
“Kinda.”
“Then lie down and rest. Be careful not to fall.”
“Why did you call me?” he asks, his voice just a breath.
“I worry about you, too.”
He doesn’t reply. After a moment, a soft snore reaches my ears, and I snort.
“See you tomorrow,” I whisper, knowing he can’t hear me, and disconnect the call. I wish I was there to brush the hair off h
