“Let me guess. His parents kicked him out, too?”
“Nah. His parents are great. It was his best friend who screwed him over. Someone saw them making out in the locker room, and the guy lost it and accused Adam of sexually assaulting him.”
“Wow. That’s serious stuff.”
It is, and it occurs to me that I probably should have kept it to myself. “Yeah, he doesn’t talk about it. So I’d appreciate it if you kept it quiet.”
“Of course.” She crosses her heart and kisses her index finger, just like we used to do when we were kids. “Cone of silence.”
“Thanks, Banana,” I say, shortening her childhood nickname.
She pins me with a pointed stare, like she can see right through me. “So what are you going to do?”
“About what?”
“About Adam. You said he’s not happy that you weren’t straight with him.”
I wag my eyebrows suggestively. “I’m pretty sure Adam doesn’t want me to be straight with him.”
She smacks me in the arm, making me flinch. Whoever coined the phrasehits like a girlnever met my sister. “You know what I mean. What are you going to do to patch things up?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far ahead. Right now, I’m kind of preoccupied with the problem that showed up on my doorstep tonight. Unannounced.”
“So I’m a problem?” She vaults to her feet. “Fine. I’ll go. I don’t know where, but I’ll go. Maybe there’s a park bench I can sleep on. Or a subway grate. Are there subways in Vermont?”
“No, and even if there were, I’m not letting you sleep outside in thirty-degree weather.” I set my half-full bottle of cider down next to her empty cup and stand, putting my hands on her shoulders and turning her to face me. She’s gone from zero to ticked off in like six seconds, so amped up she’s breathing heavy and her face is the color of a fire engine.
And people say I’m the drama queen.
“I don’t want to be a ‘problem,’” she says, putting the last word in air quotes.
“Maybe problem was the wrong word.” She gives me a look that screamsduh. “Okay, it was definitely the wrong word. You’re not a problem, you’re my sister, and I’m always here for you. But you know this puts me in an even worse position with Mom and Dad. And I didn’t think that was possible.”
“I know.” She sinks back down onto the couch, visibly crumpling in front of me, her entire body signaling defeat. “I don’t have anyone else to turn to.”
I sit next to her, tipping her chin up so she’s forced to look me in the eye. “You and me against the world, Hannah Banana. Just like always.”
“Except it’s not only you and me anymore. You’ve got Adam.”
“Think of it as a package deal,” I say, patting her on the back. “Two for one. You’re not losing a brother, you’re gaining a hockey hottie.”
“I’ll try, but I’m not making any guarantees.”
She yawns and rubs her eyes, and I immediately feel like a jerk for keeping her up. Of course she’s tired. It’s like a twenty-four-hour bus ride from Baltimore to Burlington. Nine hours if she splurged and sprang for a train ticket. And who knows how long she was waiting for me in the hall. I’m guessing flying was out of the question on her budget, which is only marginally better than mine.
“You must be exhausted. You can take the bed. The sheets are clean.”
“No way. The couch will be fine.” She pats the cushion.
“But—”
“No buts. It’s bad enough I barged in here without warning. I’m not stealing your bed, too. Besides, like you said, it’s only temporary, until I can find somewhere else to stay.”
“Have it your way.” I grab a pillow and blanket from my bed and put them in her outstretched arms. “But don’t blame me if you’re sore in the morning.”
20
Adam
