“Right, I um…should go up. Leo must be wondering what’s for dinner.” I hang my apron and turn toward the back door.
“Constantine?”
I turn around. “Yeah?”
“Thank you for volunteering for the fundraiser. You didn’t have to do that, but just so you know, I’ll help with the cost of the ingredients.”
“You don’t need to. I’m already planning on using your kitchen. I don’t want to abuse your generosity.”
“You’re not, and I’m glad to work beside you on it.”
“Thank you.” I feel my cheeks heat again. “It’s a cause that…I’m passionate about. I didn’t mean to overhear the conversation, but the kitchen door was open.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m glad you heard it. It’ll be fun doing it together. Kay’s dad is the lead singer in Hall of Fame, so I bet the band has been roped in to perform. You said Leo is a fan?”
“He’s going to be fucking stoked just to see the band perform.”
“I’m sure he’ll get to meet them in person too.”
He wasn’t wrong when he said I’ll score all the bro points. I’m going to milk this with Leo for as long as I can.
Don’t want to help with the laundry? Who took you to see Hall of Fame?
Room not tidy? Remember meeting Hall of Fame?
“You’re making a list, aren’t you?” Julius asks, laughing.
“Yup.”
“All right, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
I climb the stairs to the apartment two steps at a time. Partly running away from the guy who has me all twisted up just by existing and partly to see my little brother. With all the hours I work in the kitchen, we don’t hang out as much.
When I get inside, Leo is on the couch staring at the TV with red-rimmed eyes. I close the door and run over to him.
“What happened?”
“What happened is that you told them. You promised, Connie. You promised.”
I hold his shaking hands. “What did I tell and to whom?”
“About me. You told the school I’m HIV positive, and now this holier-than-thou nosy girl is going around the school telling everyone all these facts about HIV/AIDS and organizing some fundraiser thingy.”
Ahh, that would do it. I sit next to him.
“Listen to me, Leo. What did I promise you?”
“That you’d always be here for me.”
“And that includes not breaking your trust. If I had to inform the school or anyone else, I would tell you first.”
His eyes meet mine and he looks so lost it breaks my heart.
“Sweetie, I promise this fundraiser idea has nothing to do with you. It’s a coincidence. One of the teachers gave a talk about HIV/AIDS, and it seems to have struck a note with Kay.”
He stands all of a sudden. “If you’re not involved, how do you know her name?”
