Dylan sidled out of his lair.
“Hey, Dylan,” Sebastian said.
“Hi, Dr. Grant.” They shook hands.
“Thank you for the gifts you sent me this week,” Dylan told him. “They’re awesome.”
“You’re welcome. How’ve you been?”
“Pretty busy with football and stuff.”
“I was at your game a few weeks ago. I thought you played well.”
If Sebastian had spotted Dylan on the field, he must have been watching for him with an eagle eye because her brother’s playing time had amounted to approximately four minutes. Dylan was a far better athlete than she was, yet he wasn’t cut out to be a starter on the team because he didn’t have ferocious internal drive or a commanding physique. Frankly, she was thrilled he’d made the team again as a bench warmer.
“Football’s cool,” Dylan said. “It’s just hard. You know?”
“I’m sure it is.”
She often thought about how much Dylan had aged in comparison to the Dylan she’d known four years, six years, twelve years ago. But in comparison to Sebastian, Dylan seemed incredibly young. The two of them might as well belong to different species.
Dylan scratched the side of his face. “Have you been doing a lot of ... surgeries?”
“Quite a few, yes.”
“Anybody die?”
“Not since I saw you last.”
“Sweet. If they’re still alive they might ... stay that way.”
“That’s the plan.”
Dylan’s vision landed on Leah. “A couple of my friends are gonna come over later.”
“Who?”
He rattled off the names of four kids she knew well.
“What are you guys going to do?” she asked.
“Snort cocaine.” Dylan gave her the first genuine grin she’d seen out of him all day.
“Absolutely no cocaine, any other kind of drug, alcohol, or girls.”
He pretended astonishment.
“Movies are fine.” She’d set parental controls. “So are the video games we already own.”
“What about board games?” Sebastian asked her wryly.
“More like bored games,” Dylan answered, taking a clunky stab at humor.
“Board games are allowed. As are puzzles. You can cook anything except meth. And, of course, arts and crafts are always a wholesome option.”
“They could make jewelry,” Sebastian suggested, deadpan.
“Or tie-dye shirts,” Leah said.
