Lydia wasn’t the only one who didn’t pay attention to finances. Before coming to Savannah, I didn’t think about money because I believed we didn’t have any. Now I didn’t think about it because, in theory, we had more than anyone could ever spend in a lifetime. Even if Ashley was having trouble prising it out of the bank.
‘Wyn’s going into senior year, right?’
My anxiety prickled at the sound of the name on Jackson’s lips.
‘Right.’
‘Guess he’ll be heading back home soon. For school.’
‘His classes don’t start until the end of August,’ I replied, simultaneously wishing he would get to the point and hoping he never would. ‘We have heaps of time.’
‘Couple of weeks.’
‘A lot can happen in a couple of weeks.’
Upstairs I heard the heavy thundering of feet crashing above our heads.
‘And so it begins,’ Jackson intoned in an ominous voice. ‘T-minus two minutes to hurricane Lydia.’
‘Couldn’t be quiet to save her life,’ I agreed, sipping my coffee, hating the discomfort between us. Why couldn’t things be the way they were before the DeSoto?
‘So, I guess I’m sorry if I acted like an ass yesterday,’ he said, a similar regret colouring his voice and his cheeks. ‘I wasn’t expecting Wyn to be here.’
‘Lydia should’ve cleared it with you,’ I replied. ‘But yeah, you’ve been known to be friendlier.’
‘Yeah, well. The thing is, I know I said I could wait—’
‘Please don’t,’ I interrupted before he could say something he couldn’t take back. ‘It doesn’t matter if Wyn is in Savannah or Asheville or the next room – nothing’s going to change. But I hate when things are weird between you and me.’
‘Me too,’ he replied. ‘But I don’t like it, Em.’
‘Yeah, he can tell,’ I said, impatient for Lydia to come crashing in the room. ‘We all can.’
‘I don’t like the situation,’ Jackson clarified. ‘It’s not him, it’s what he is. I don’t like having a Were around you. I don’t trust him.’
‘Do you trust me?’ I asked.
‘Completely.’
‘Then you can trust Wyn, because whatever is happening, he isn’t part of it.’
‘Only he is,’ he said. ‘Whether you like it or not, he is involvedin this and not on our side. This isn’t about my feelings, Emily, this is about your safety.’
‘Is it?’ I pressed. ‘Really?’
‘Morning, y’all!’ Lydia flew into the room, a brightly coloured silk scarf wrapped around her hair, old-fashioned men’s pyjamas on her body. ‘Do I smell coffee? Because if I don’t, I should.’
‘I was just heading out for a run,’ Jackson said, setting his juice down on the counter, only for his sister to pick it right back up and take a long drink. ‘You should be able to work the Gaggia between the two of you.’
‘I think we all know that’s not true,’ Lydia groaned. ‘Looks like we’re ordering Starbucks. Unless you want to pick it up on your way back, oh dearest brother of mine?’
Leaning over to lace up his running shoes, Jackson glanced up, his troubled brown eyes meeting mine.
‘No,’ he replied. ‘I don’t.’
His sister sighed, then brightened half a second later.
‘Maybe Wyn will go!’ she suggested.
