All the happy memories I have of growing up here before Dad moved us away have Eden in them. He was my world. My everything. He’d finish school for the day then pick me up from daycare and we’d spend every hour together until I fell asleep in his lap.
He’s the only real parent I’ve ever had.
I wanted to spend Christmas with him. Withhisfamily—even if that meant Shawn, too. But I’ve come all the way home just to be alone again.
I should have stayed in Indonesia. At least I had friends there.
It’s going to be a long fucking winter.
I drop my phone to the floor and collapse sideways on the futon. It’s lumpy, but it’s soft. Without bothering to take my shoes off I pull my feet up, fold my arm beneath my head like apillow, and close my eyes. Because what else can I do right now? I can’t change anything, so I might as well get some sleep.
Iwake up to the smell of my own armpit and the shriek of my phone.
I peel my face off the futon and squint at the screen. It’s just after two-thirty p.m. and Eden’s name is flashing on the screen.
I rest my phone on the side of my face and let my arm flop back down. “What?”
“Rude.”
“Shut up.”
“Have you gone yet?”
“Gone where?”
“To the shop.”
“I haven't even left the spot I was when we last spoke.”
“Lazy ass,” he mumbles.
“Why do you care so much?”
I can hear him hammering something in the background. “Can you just do me this one favor?”
“You mean after you left me stranded with no clue what was going on?”
“Yeah, I know… I’m sorry.” I can hear in my brother’s tone that it’s not easy for him to admit. But Mom did an even worse job raising him than she did with me, so I’ll take the win. “Tek just,” he continues. “He just shouldn’t be alone.”
I take hold of my phone, and sit up. “Should you not have thought of that—”
“I wasn’t thinking, okay!” Eden snaps, then catches his breath. “But I couldn’t stay in town. There’s just too many reminders of everything, everywhere.”
“Did your conscience finally catch up with your impulses?”
“I’m serious, Carey. I can’t be there, so I need you to be… Please.”
I flop back down on the futon. “I hardly know the guy, and I wouldn't say he likes me. So why am I suddenly his emotional support animal?”
“Because other than from me, he’ll never ask for help.”
I sigh. “And did he ask you for it?”
“He’s my best friend,” Eden says, as though that explains everything. “And he needs to not be alone.”
“But you don’t care about leavingmealone,” I say softly, and snidely, and with the full intention of Eden hearing.
“Just go. You’ll figure it out.” I can hear him biting his tongue.
