“Oh my God. He wore that shirt because he was modeling. It wasn’t his everyday wear.”
“And he looked like a pirate. Am I wrong?”
Auggie gave a loud sigh. “It’s just... He’s not the man I thought he was.”
“Auggie, he’sexactlythe man you thought he was. Handsome, a stud in bed—your words, not mine—and not much between his ears.”
“But they were such cute ears.” Auggie paused. “I feel bad that I don’t miss him. I’m thirty-two. Shouldn’t I be thinking about a steady relationship at this age? Babies? A family? Shouldn’twe?” She moved her arm and stared at Xavier.
“You’ve been talking to Mom recently. A mistake.”
“I know.” Auggie groaned. “I though it was you calling so I picked up the phone. Anyway, she made some valid points.”
“Auggie, you know you can’t force love. Mom got lucky.”
They paused a moment, still missing their father though it had been over ten years since his passing.
Auggie nodded. “Ever since breaking up with Noel last year, she hasn’t been happy.” Though it didn’t need to be said they’d both loathed Noel for a multitude of reasons. “She’s too focused on us and needs to concentrate on her own life. She’s got a few good years left.”
Xavier snorted. “Ya think?” Their mother had just turned fifty-two and had no plan to die anytime soon. Or so she’d said just a few weeks ago when nagging him to find a wife and have a few kids while she was still young enough to appreciate running around with them. “You do have a point. It’s not healthy for her to be so alone all the time.”
“She’d say the same thing about you.”
“Hey, I was dating Christine until recently.”
Auggie gave him a knowing look. “We all knew that was going nowhere. She was your Rafe, only a little smarter.”
Xavier bit back a laugh. “Okay, okay. So we need to hook Mom up, is that what you’re saying?” He felt a little ill just thinking about his mother out there, dating. Noel had been bad enough.
“Do I need to use smaller words?”
This time Xavier shot Auggie the finger. “Look, I have to finish my article before tomorrow morning. But I have time to join my baby sister in a pizza and some beer.”
“Baby sister? I’m barely four minutes younger than you.”
“Five minutes, but who’s counting?”
She made a face.
“I also have soda if you don’t want beer. But nothing diet. Real sugar for us real people.”
Auggie gagged. “That you’re not dead yet, after all the crap you eat and drink, is a miracle. Must be all those good vibes you’re passing along to your readers.”
Xavier cleared his throat. “Notmyreaders. Aunt Truth’s readers. Remember, I’m just filling in while she’s on sabbatical.”
Auggie sat up and rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I’m not gonna tell anyone you’re pretending to be the popular Aunt Truth. Sheesh. I’m just messing with you.”
“Good. Because I need this break, and I’m actually enjoying the work.”
“It’s still therapy, Xavier, no matter how hard you pretend you’re taking a break from your day job.” Auggie shook her head. “Denial. The first step to accepting your faults.”
“That’s one of the first stages of grief, actually, so?—”
“Like I care. We already have one shrink in the family. We don’t needmetelling people how to think too.”
“That’s not what I do. I?—”
“Don’t care.” She grinned. “I always thought you drew better than you spoke. Stick to cartoons, Bro, and we’ll all be better for it.”
