His other hand tightens on my hip and he urges, “But what?”
“I…”
I’m not ready to tell him about that.
“I’m tired. I don’t know if I can help you tonight,” I say. “I haven’t caught up on my sleep since a few nights ago. It was draining.”
He exhales and smoke pours over me. The earthy, cinnamon smell is comforting. My heart rate slows and I breathe it in again.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“It’s understandable. You’ve been through a lot.” He closes his eyes and nods. “Two more nights, so you can sleep well.”
Two more nights of this insatiable madness until I see him again. Why does he turn my worry into mush, and give my body peace? I don’t understand it, but I want more.
“Okay.”
thirteen
Social Media Nonsense and Business Bullshit
Ace is quiet through dinner, never looking up from his bowl. It turns me inside out to watch him avoid my gaze. Nai Nai talks about all the things she read up on at the library, that there’s a rich history in the town. Not only of the café, but of strange goings-on, reports of demons, and bouts of violence. I’m not really surprised.
I want to engage with her and chitchat, but all I can think about is how to make Ace feel better. Promises won’t do it; I’ve made them before. I can show him the alarm on my phone, but that’ll do fuck-all to apologize for not being there today.
“…and a dog made of fire brought me a burnt stick last night,” Nai Nai says and my attention snaps to her.
Ace tsks. “Yeah, right. I would’ve woken up if a fire dog came in the room.”
Nai Nai grins smugly. “Now that I have both of your attentions, I want to say this brooding has gone on long enough.”
My stomach clenches hard around the vegetables and rice as my gaze cuts over to Ace. He glances up at me for a fraction, then back into his bowl.
“Zixin, Jiahui is trying to get this business running so we have money to fill our bowls,” Nai Nai says.
“I know,” he murmurs. “Thank you, jiejie.”
“Jiahui, the only people Zixin has had for years is you and me.”
I swallow, trying to force down the lump in my throat. “Yes, elder.”
“I have friends,” Ace complains.
Nai Nai grunts. “Friends do not feed and clothe you. They do not watch out for you the way Jiahui does.”
He pushes his food around, poking a bit of cabbage.
“We are in a strange predicament. We are far from where we once lived, for an unknown amount of time, but that doesn’t mean this isn’thome, and that we shouldn’t be acting like family.”
I nod my head several times, then look at my brother. “I’m so sorry, Ace. I don’t have a good excuse for forgetting, but I’ve set an alarm in my phone so I’ll have a daily reminder to come get you.”
His brow furrows and he frowns. “I’m fifteen. I can take a bus.”
I worry my lip. “Is that what you want?”
“Kinda.” He shrugs. “Only a few kids get rides. Everyone else takes the bus and walks. Maybe…I could make a few new friends while I’m here, invite them to my Dischorde server.”
I want him to have friends. I don’t know how long we’ll be stuck here. Amherst said it could be months before Zhao Shang’s hearing—even years. There’s no end in sight, and we have to make the most of what we’ve got in front of us.
