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Cool your jets, I remind myself. Good things are worth waiting for.
I walk down the hallway and quietly slip into my and Adam’s room, surprised to find the lights still on. Adam is sitting at his desk, hunched over some papers.
“Wow, you’re still up?”
He casts a glance over his shoulder as I shut the door behind me. “You’re one to talk.”
I grin, tossing my jacket onto the wall hook. “I was out with Orca.”
“Mm. I know. You stayed out pretty late.”
I kick off my shoes and stretch out on my bed. “Aren’t you supposed to be my brother, not my babysitter?”
“Just observing.”
“Well, stop observing.”
Adam drops his pencil onto the desk. “No. I won’t. Orca’s not going to be here for long. She’s going to return to her island soon, and… I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
“You’re one to talk,” I deadpan.
He stiffens. “What do you mean?”
“I heard all about your little trip with her this morning. You took her to some church to try to find her long-lost relatives. What’s all that about?”
Adam turns in his chair to look at me. “She wants to know more about her mom.”
“Her mom’s dead, Adam. I don’t see what good it’s gonna do, dragging up the past.”
“You don’t understand. Her father has never told her anything about her mother. He doesn’t want to relive the pain of it all, I guess… but Orca needs something to hold onto. Something to identify with.”
“I’m giving her something to hold onto. I’m showing her what her future could be here in the real world.”
Adam grunts a dry laugh. “You’re having fun with her, Jack. That’s it. Don’t fool yourself.”
“You’re the one fooling yourself,” I fire back, sitting upright. “Helping her on this mission to find her family. You trying to make her fall in love with you?”
“What?”
“You heard.”
“Jack, I’m only trying to help her,” Adam says. “She saved my life; the least I can do in return is try to help her find her family—if she has any.”
What am I supposed to say to that? Irritation and jealousy stir in my chest like a brewing storm. I stand up, pacing to my dresser and pulling off my T-shirt. A tense silence fills the room as Adam turns back to whatever he’s writing. I shove my jeans into the nearest drawer and climb into bed, folding my hands behind my head.
“Well, don’t worry, Adam. I’m not gonna break her heart. Orca and I are just trying to make the most of what time we have left together.”
“I know that’s how you see it,” Adam replies, “but she’s different. Just… be careful with her. Okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I will. Thanks, Dad.” I roll my eyes and throw a pillow at the back of his head. It bounces off his shoulders and falls to the floor. He turns around sharply, glaring over his shoulder.
“Go to bed.”
“I’m in bed.”
“Then go to sleep.”
“You go to sleep.”
