I cut the call.
Mom is making up the bed, and the room isbareof any clutter.
The window is open, and she’s emptying the closet of what little clothes there are left.
“Is Dad dead?” I laugh, my fingers resting on the doorframe.
Mom looks at me with exasperation, shaking her head.
“Can you put some clothes on?”
“Huh?”
Mom’s acting weird.
“Wendy—”
Mom glares at me, putting one finger up to silence me, an action that surprisingly still works.
“Mom, thank you. Not Wendy. You’re not my buddy.”
I roll my eyes, knowing I’m asking for a tongue lashing.
“Seriously, what’s with the room?”
“Sis, put some clothes on.”
I whirl around, ready to rip the fuck out of Kai.
How dare he tell me to get dressed? I’m in my own home!
“Actually, I’ll wear what I like. What’s with you two?” I retort, watching as Crane pokes his head around Kai’s bedroom door.
Those eyes.
I find myself doing a double take at the sadness in his eyes, but he stares past me, ignoring me completely.
“We have aguest,Sierra,” Mom huffs, carrying a bunch of clothes into her room. “You can’t walk around like that.”
I’m a hot ball offuck you,when Mom smiles widely at Crane.
Is she being serious?
Crane is the guest they’re referring to?
“God, Mom, it’s onlyCrane.He doesn’t care what I wear. I’m like hiskid sister!”
Kai looks amused, but Mom shakes her head at me, pursing her lips.
“Crane is going to be staying with us for a while. This is going to be his room.”
My head whips around to Crane who continues to glare at the floor, his jaw clenching.
What’s happened?
I want to reach out and hug him again, to check he’s okay, anything rather than watch his heart break in real time.
“Oh,” is all I say, and I stare down at my pants and skimpy tank.
