I shook my head. “It’s not that. Kelly, I’m so sorry, but Arthur and I have to go back to England immediately. There’s an emergency.”
“What happened?”
Good question. I guessedfaeries are coming to take my friend’s baby son and I have to go back to stop them because I’m a witch who gains her power from fucking five guys at oncewasn’t going to work. Kelly was pretty open-minded, but she was still an Arizona-raised Christian who learned intelligent design in high school. “Um, well, Rowan’s fallen down the stairs and he’s in the hospital and it’s quite serious.”
“Do you have to go?”
“He’s asking for me and…you haven’t met Rowan, but trust me when I say that if he’s hurt then Ineedto be there. I’m so sorry. I’d take you with me if I could, but you don’t even have a passport yet, and you’ve got your appointment with the lawyer tomorrow and therapy on Wednesday.”
More lies. I’d have to get used to lying to my sister. But at least she’d be safe here in America for now.
Kelly squeezed my hand. After the crush of Arthur’s thick fingers, her touch barely registered. “Of course you have to go. Don’t worry about me. I’m a big girl, and I’ve got Gabe and Pete and all my new friends to look after me. I’ll get them to make Arthur’s death burger to go. Can you drop me at the hostel on your way to the airport?”
I wasn’t so sure Kelly should be calling all the backpackers her new friends, but I didn’t have time to worry about that now. Arthur waved at us from outside.
Yesterday, we’d had the foresight to exchange the Corvette for a more sensible Honda Fit that could actually seat three people plus all Kelly’s shopping, if we didn’t mind not being able to move any limbs. Arthur and I even packed our bags from the hostel into the trunk this morning. (The lockers at the hostel cost more than a room and I didn’t trust any of the hippies who worked there not to steal our stuff). Kelly grabbed our to-go containers, and I threw down money for the bill and tip. We piled in and sped off.
A few ass-clenching minutes later (Arthur still wasn’t a hundred percent used to driving on the right-hand side of the road), we slammed to a stop outside the hostel. Arthur leapt out and started hauling Kelly’s shopping bags onto the pavement. Two scruffy-looking Canadian guys – I’m guessing Gabe and Pete – stepped out of the bar and offered to help Kelly carry them upstairs.
“Oh, would you? That’d be ever so kind.” Kelly flipped her hair over her shoulder as Gabe sauntered off with her shopping bags. Yeesh.
You wouldn’t believe she’d only just come out of the hospital after a suicide attempt.But that was Kelly. She always could bounce back quickly, especially if there was someone around to flirt with.
“Are yousureyou’re going to be okay? The only stuff you own is a car full of wildly inappropriate clothing. We didn’t even get you a toothbrush. And you’ll need a copy of your birth certificate for the lawyer?—”
“Duh. That’s why you got me all that money.” Kelly held up her purse. “They sell toothbrushes at the front desk. I can buy whatever I need thanks to you, Maeve. You’ve already given me the one thing I needed the most – a new start. One day maybe you’ll tell me what youactuallydid to make Uncle Bob part with twenty thousand dollars, and that’s all I ever need from you.”
I shrugged. “One day.”
More lies.
Arthur finished pulling all the bags out of the car. He glanced at his phone and frowned. “Maeve, we’ve got to go.”
Kelly wrapped her arms around Arthur’s neck. “It was so nice to meet you. I’d tell you to look after my older sis and make her less uptight and nerdy, but I can see it’s a lost cause.”
Arthur laughed, his whole body rumbling. “You take care of yourself, Kelly. We’ll meet again soon.”
Kelly moved around the side of the car, leaned over the door, and embraced me, burying her face into my shoulder. A strand of her golden hair tickled my nose. I wrapped my arms around my sister, breathing in the scent of her new citrusy perfume, which couldn’t quite mask the lingering sterile hospital smell.I nearly lost you. I’ll never let that happen again.
A warm pillar of spirit magic rose up through my belly as we embraced. I poured a tiny bit of that spirit through my hands, splaying my fingers open across Kelly’s back. The magic flowed into her, bringing with it all my love and fear and hope for her.
I’ll protect you.
Kelly’s body sagged a little and she sighed in contentment.
Okay, cool. I didn’t know I could dothat, either.
“I love you,” I whispered into her golden hair.
“I love you more, big sis.”
After far too long and not long enough, I pulled back. “I’m calling you the minute I get home.”
“I know.”
“And I want hourly texts, telling me exactly what you’re doing and how you’re feeling. If I don’t hear from you every hour on the hour I’ll be on the next plane back over here, and then you’ll really find out how this nerd can ruin a party.”
She rolled her eyes. “Relax, Einstein. I’ll text.”
