Page 20 of Tulips and Lost Time

Confused, Marc’s brows furrow as he studies his sister. Then as rocks crackle beneath my steps, he peers over his shoulder and watches my approach. Glancing back, he repeats, “It’s fine?”

“Yep.” Kari kneels and goes to work tying her laces. She wears little denim shorts today and black high top connies. Her hair is tied in a pony, the curls and waves and frizzy expanse exploding from the elastic, forming a halo around her entire head and tickling her cheeks when the wind blows strands forward. “I’m done arguing about it. I’m done asking about it. It’s fine.”

“And… and you’re not going?” he confirms. “You’re gonna stay home and hang out?”

“Mmhm.” She switches feet and fakes a small smile for her brother. She’s growing up fast, from the little girl she was when she first tiptoed into my life, to the teen she is now, whose eyes are prettier than all the stars put together, and whose brain ticks a thousand times faster than Marcus gives her credit for. “I have a report to write for Ms. Jackson, anyway. So I’ll get that done instead.” She finishes her second shoe and glances across to meet his eyes. “What time do you expect to get back?”

“Um…” He drops his hands in his pockets and kicks rocks while he thinks. “I dunno. Like midnight, I suppose. We’ll stop playing around eleven thirty, I think. Half an hour to pack up. I’ll come straight back, and we can catch a movie or something. I don’t mind staying up late and hanging out, Kar. I don’t have to work Sunday until the afternoon, so I can sleep in.”

“Okay.” She licks her dry lips and pushes up tall, smoothing her shorts and giving her beloved brother her back. “I’d rather do what makes you comfortable.” She places her foot on her board and sighs. “I never want to make you worry.”

“Thank you, Kar.” He finally breaks away from his spot on the dying grass and steps up onto the halfpipe instead. He walks straight to his sister and wraps her in a single arm hug so tight, part of my soul feels it, too. “You know I don’t do anything to hurt you, right? This isn’t about control or being a jerk.”

“I know.” She rests her cheek on his chest and snuggles in. “You just want to keep me safe.”

“That’s all it’s ever been about.” He presses a kiss to the crown of her head and hovers. “We already lost everything once. I’m gonna make sure it never happens again.”

“I know,” she repeats. Closing her eyes, she cinches her arms around his waist and simply breathes. She holds on to the one constant she’s decided she has in her life, despite everything else promised to her. “I’m sorry we fought about it.”

“It’s done now.” Pulling back to look down into her eyes, he smiles adoringly. He’s gonna be a damn good dad someday. But hell if he won’t be carrying a bucket load of obligation and anxiety every step he takes. “Me and the guys have to practice our set in a sec. Then I’ve gotta head to work.” He kisses her temple and squeezes her extra tight. “Wanna come in and watch while we’re doing our thing?”

“I’m gonna stay out here.” Gently detangling herself, Kari extends her leg and toes the board back into place. “I’m gonna keep working on some stuff to get this energy out. Then I’m going in and getting a start on my report.”

“Alright.” He winks for his baby sister. She doesn’t carry a pink blanket around anymore. Nor is her school bag purple. But in his eyes, I reckon she’s still six years old and in need of a night light. Finally, he steps back and turns, grinning at me when he remembers I’m still here. Still listening. “Problem solved.” He claps my shoulder as he passes and holds the fabric of my shirt for a moment longer. “Coming in, Luca? We need our drummer.”

“Yeah.” I smooth my shirt down when he releases me, watching him over my shoulder as he keeps walking. “I’m coming. Give me two seconds.”

“Yeah.” He turns toward the garage, completely at ease knowing his sister is safe now, locked securely in the Turners’ backyard. And yeah, maybe she’s gonna skateboard. But a skinned knee is far less terrifying to him now compared to the idea of his sister partying in the dark.

“Why do I get the feeling I’m gonna see you at the lake Saturday night?”

She bends and grabs her board, walking it to the coping and standing on the platform, ready to fly down again. Once she has herself set up, she casts a side-eye my way and smirks. “No clue why you think that, considering I don’t intend to be seen.”

My heart sinks. The worry she took from Marc, now saddled on my shoulders. “Kari?—”

“The twins are going, too. Britt’s going. And my report has already been written. I’m gonna be there, Luca. I just won’t be where he notices me.”

“But now I’ll know.”

She only shrugs. Zero concern for my moral anguish. “And considering you’re cool with the twins going, I’m gonna assume you’re cool with me being there, too.”

“It’s not about me being cool about it! It’s about me knowing something my best friend would appreciate being told. You’re asking me to keep the secret.”

She places her foot on the tail of her board and smirks. “Sounds like a you problem. Tell him. Or don’t. You’re gonna make your own choices and decide where your loyalties lie. I’m gonna go to the lake either way.”

“You’re a pain in my fuckin’ ass.” I reach up and scrub a hand through my hair. “If he sees you there Saturday night, I’m staying out of it! I’m not coming to your defense, Bear.”

“I’ll wear all black,” she snickers. “I’ll be sneakier than a ninja.”

“Great! So when you fall into the lake, wearing black, we won’t have to watch you die.” I turn on my heels and gnash my teeth together. “I wasn’t built for this secret keeping stress.”

She laughs, just loud enough for the sound to carry on the wind and tickle the back of my neck. “You go about your business, Luca. And I’ll go about mine. You never told him about the Maybel stuff either. Seems you’re gonna be just fine.”

“Swear to god,” I turn back and point a threatening finger. “If you drown, I’m gonna be pissed.”

“Okay.” She drops into the halfpipe, amused when her board spins one way and her body the other. She slams to the wood and skids onto her knees, bringing my heart into my throat and anxiety swelling in my gut. But she giggles anyway. Because Marcus isn’t out here to save her, and it’s not my job to ride in and do as he would.

“I hope that hurt, Bear.” I turn away from the image of Kari Macchio plopping onto her ass. Blood on her knees and a wild smile curling her lips. “I hope you get scabs that ruin whatever outfit you’re planning to wear this weekend.”

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