Page 38

“You do homework together?”

“Yeah. Most nights. Levi always knows the answers.”

“Really?”

Theo nods. “But he didn’t go to school for very long.”

“Why not?”

“He said he had to take care of our mom.”

“Oh. Was she sick?”

“Dunno.”

I stare at him for a moment.

That would explain the cereal dinners, leaving Theo waiting alone at school, the complete lack of understanding about what a child actually needs.

Maybe Levi isn’t malicious. Maybe he just doesn’t know any better. The thought unsettles me more than I’d like.

Theo brightens suddenly. “Oh! Look at his special knife.”

I watch, mortified, as he pulls a switchblade from his pocket and starts to open it. I quickly snatch it from his hand.

“I don’t think this is for kids.”

“It’s for stripping wires,” he says matter-of-factly.

I don’t know much about electronics, but I’m fairly certain you don’t need a knife this big for that.

“Does Levi strip a lot of wires?”

Theo considers this. “Dunno.”

I let out a slow breath and set the knife well out of reach.

Maybe I should hold off on declaring Levi a misunderstood victim just yet.

As if summoned, a heavy knock sounds at the door.

I open it to find Levi freshly showered, his dark hair still damp. He’s wearing black sweatpants and a clean white T-shirt. A few droplets of water cling to the ends of his hair.

“It’s getting late,” he says, leaning one shoulder against the doorframe. “Gotta be responsible and all that.”

Theo bounds over, and I pull him into a hug. “Thanks for coming over, sweetheart. Come back anytime.”

As Theo slips past him, Levi looks at me expectantly, like a proud puppy waiting for praise.

“I, uh…worked on the attitude,” he says. “Looked up some recipes and shit. I’ll pick him up on time tomorrow.”

He pauses, clearly waiting for approval.

“Maybe keep track of your knives,” I say, handing him the switchblade. “And you should play catch with him, like you promised.”

His hopeful expression falters. It’s subtle. Just a flicker of disappointment across his face before he manages to cover it. But I see it, and for some ridiculous reason, it bothers me.

He came here looking all pleased with himself, like he had ticked off a list of responsible-adult achievements and expected a gold star. Instead, I handed him a knife and told him to do better.