Page 52 of Home to Me

Brianna shrugged, looking down at her T-shirt, plucking at a thread that had apparently become suddenly quite fascinating, “Oh, you know. Good days and bad days. She doesn't want you to worry.”

Ben barked out a short, ironic burst of laughter. “Well, that's a non-starter.”

Brianna's lips formed a sad, little half smile, “Yeah. I know. I mean, she just feels bad about you taking care of her, you know? Like, she should be taking care of you instead. But she can't.”

Ben nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

“So, is this what you've been upset about? You've been worried about Mom?”

Ben crinkled his forehead. “Who said I've been upset?”

“Mom said you've been cranky the past couple of times she's talked to you.”

Ben shrugged. “Well, yeah. I mean...the past few times we've talked, she's had some bad medical news to share. I'm not gonna throw a party on Skype.”

Brianna narrowed her eyes at him. “Yeahhhh...this is more than that.”

Ben shook his head in annoyance at his little sister's persistence.

“Is it money? Because you know you don't have to pay for UCLA. I can get a job, student loans—”

“Hell no. I'm not having you graduate from college already strangled with debt. Besides, money's fine. I've got this new show in the works, and the agency's doing better than ever. Don't worry about money. I've got your school covered, several times over.”

Her light-brown eyes narrowed farther. “Then it must be...a girl,” she said knowingly.

“Nope,” he responded a little too quickly.

“Hah!” she pointed a finger at him accusatorially. “It is a girl! You sly dog, you! Mom was right! It's that woman you’re working on the show with. Laura or something.”

“Lauren.”

“Ben and Lauren.” She tried the combination out on her tongue, considering thoughtfully as she said it. “I like it. It has a nice ring to it.”

Ben gave her a mysterious half smile, but refused to acknowledge what she was saying.

“Aww...” she fawned over him with a wide, playful grin. “I think it's cute! I like seeing you tied up in knots over a girl. It's a helluva lot more fun to be tied up in knots over than the things you normally have to worry about, like taking care of a sick mother and practically raising a pain-in-the-ass little sister. Not to mention being financially responsible for it all.”

He smiled, ruffling her hair. “You know I wouldn't trade it.”

“You know, Ben. I may be only twenty, but I am studying to be a psychologist. You should tell me what's going on. I could help.”

He snorted. “There's not a snowball's chance in Hell that's gonna happen, my little pain in the ass,” he said affectionately.

She smiled the superior smile used only by those who know they have the ultimate upper hand. “Fine,” she said airily, pulling out her phone. “If you don't want to talk to me, I'll just call Mom. I'll tell her how miserable you look and that it's over a girl.”

“Bri, don't be a brat. Mom needs to be resting. She doesn't need you calling her and bothering her with this.”

“Ha!” Brianna cried triumphantly. “You think I'm calling and bothering her? She sent me on this mission, dear brother. I'm supposed to be fact-gathering. She's expecting my call.”

“Bri, don't,” Ben said more emphatically, his voice taking on a warning tone.

“I'm dialing,” Brianna singsonged, sliding her finger across the face of her phone to unlock it.

Ben grabbed for the phone, but she was young and nimble, and she managed to keep it away from him.

Not wanting to burden his mom with his tales of Lauren-related woe while she should be focusing on recovery, he reluctantly relented.

“Fine, fine!” he said a little too loudly. “I'll tell you what's going on.”

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