Something pangs through my chest, something bright and real through the hazy sludge. “I thought you hated me for breaking Mom’s heart.”
“Well… I did. But I’m your little sister. I’m allowed to hate you. But I hatethis—”She gestures at me. “—even more. I never realized how much she…suffocatedyou.”
“She means well. And I… What else am I going to do?”
Annie narrows her eyes. “The Mylo I know wouldn’t just give up. What you’ve already done was like…impossible. You can do it again.”
“Annie, it’s not…” I sigh.
She smacks my arm. “Quit it with the wounded puppy act!”
I roll my eyes. “Okay, what do you want, then? The doctor said that—” I lower my voice again. “—that I’m building resistance to the suppressants. So… that’s it. I’m done. Game over.”
Annie huffs. “Oh, would you—wait.” Her eyes light up as a smirk pulls across her face. “Hang on a second.”
“What?”
“No, this isn’t a wounded puppy act… this is alovesickpuppy act.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!”
“Uh huh, there it is. You’re mad, which means I’m right.Ooooh!Oh youlikeChristine.” She puts her hands to her cheeks. “Mr. Mylo ‘I’m too cool for popular culture’ isinlovewith amainstream movie star.”
I whip my towel at her. “You shut up! Take that back!”
She jumps back just in time for the cotton to smack loudly against the kitchen cabinet.
“That’sthe Mylo I know! Oh youfucker! Iknewyou weren’t telling me everything…”
“Oh yeah, because you want to hear about mysex life?!”
“EW!” Annie scrunches her face and plugs her ears.
“Yeah, exactly!”
Annie recovers, then grabs my arm. “Does sheknow?”
“Knowwhat?”
She giggles. “That youlike her.”
I roll my eyes. “Ido not.” My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I’m grateful for the distraction. Even if it’s a spam call, I might pick up. I’d much rather hear about my car’s extended warranty than talk to Annie about this right now.
But then I see Haley’s name and a smiling selfie of us together on the screen, and I answer immediately.
“Hey, Haley?—”
“Mylo! Oh my god, I’m so glad you picked up.”
“Are you okay?”
Annie leans toward my phone and shouts, “HI HALEY I’M ANNIE, MYLO’S REAL SISTER.”
I shove her away from the phone and hiss, “Shut up!”
Haley is breathless. “Oh, you’re with your family? Are you sure this is an okay time?”
“Yeah, of course.”
