For a moment, Mal thought they might be okay—that Maddie was right, and things were fine.
But they weren’t.
The Flowers family made it inside before Mal’s momclicked her tongue. Whenever she did this, waited until they were inside, Mal knew things were going to be Bad. They went silent and as still as they could, shuffling on steps as quiet as the thick sole of their comfort Docs would allow.
Maybe—just maybe—they could make it up stairs before—
“You know what, Mal?” their mom said.
Maybe not.
Mal turned. Beside them, Maddie did the same.
“Amanda,”Mal’s dad said under his breath.
“No,Richard,” she snapped. “They need to hear this.”
“What?” Mal asked carefully.
“I’m disappointed in you,” their mom chided. “You shouldn’t be a no-show at your sister’s games.”
“They said sorry, Mom,” Maddie interjected as Mal shrank beside her. “And really, I don’t mind. We’ll win the next game.”
Mal’s eyes flashed to Maddie. “You lost?”
“My good-luck charm wasn’t there.” Maddie shrugged. “But it’s just one game.”
But their mom would not be dissuaded. She perched one hand on her hip, the other waving their dad through the hallway to the laundry room to drop off Maddie’s gear. She shook her head. “I expect more from you, Mal. We don’t ask much, but it’s not very sisterly of you to miss Maddie’s games.”
“Siblingly,” Maddie corrected, but their mom went on.
“I know you have your project now, Mal, but Maddie needs us,” she said. “There wasno one therefor the whole first half of her game. If she’s going to earn a scholarship, we need to show up to support her.”
“I mean, I still kick ass whether Mal’s there or not.” Maddie shrugged, her voice light, but Mal could see how her forearm tightened in their periphery. “I always do when you and Dad are at work.”
“I know, baby.” Their mom’s voice went soft. “I’m just disappointed in Mal. We’re a team, as a family. We need to show up for each other when we can—and, Mal, you can.”
Mal nodded, their stomach sinking down through the floorboards, where whatever little creatures were surely lurking in the crawl space gnawed on it. “Yes, ma’am.”
“All right,” their mom said. “It’s late. Maddie, why don’t you hit the shower?”
A beat passed, like their mom was dismissing Maddie first. Mal’s stomach sank further. This was never a good sign.
“Yeah, come on, Mal,” Maddie said. “Let’s go.”
If there had been more, their mom didn’t press it. Together, the Flowers siblings retreated up the stairs to their bedrooms. When they were safely out of sight on the landing, Mal turned around to face Maddie, who stopped with them.
“I’m really, really sorry,” they said again.
“No,I’msorry,” Maddie said, her voice low but fierce. “God, Ihatewhen she gets like that with you!”
“I—” Mal started and stopped. Whatever they had been expecting, it wasn’t that. “What?”
“When she—I don’t know, when she takes out whatever bullshit she’s got going on on you.” Maddie threw her hands up. It was rare that Mal saw her like this: angry, raw, unfiltered. “Likeshewasn’t the one who was a full hour late today. Like, why can’t she say all those things toherself?”
Mal shrugged. “I don’t know? I’m easier to be mad at, I guess.”
“Ugh.” Maddie huffed a strange, strangled laugh. “I mean, you’re right, and I hate it.”
