Page 96 of Burn It Down

But I want him with me. So, I grab his hand and lead him toward the very small front porch where my dad’s waiting.

“Jake,” he says, nodding to my boyfriend.

“Charlie.” Jake nods back at my dad, recognizing that now isn’t the time to do the wholeMr.orSirbit. It’s not the right situation to have the same jovial argument for the twentieth time.

Not letting go of Jake’s hand, I reach to hug my dad with my free arm.

“I’m sorry to hear about Carl,” I tell him sincerely, getting choked up as I do.

“Me too, son. Your sister’s shaken up pretty badly. You should probably get in there to see her.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Mind if I talk to Jake out here while you do?”

I eye my father quizzically.

“Um, sure. As long as it’s okay with him.” I flash my eyes to Jake.

“Go. I’ll be here when you get back.”

With that, I head inside to find my sister curled up under my sheets, her tears staining my pillow, her duffle bag on my floor.

I kick off my shoes and climb into my bed next to her. Laying on my back, I let my sister put her head on my chest. We laid like this for two straight days after our mom died not knowing what to do or which way was up.

I start with the leading questions to get her to talk.

“If you leave tonight, where will you go?”

“Genevieve said I could stay at her place for a little bit.”

“You’ll just end up couch hopping because you can’tstandGenevieve,” I remind her.

“What I can’t stand is staying here,” she says, frustrated.

“Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious? People are fuckingdying,Dylan.Dad’s hellbent on selling the shop, and you’re moving on with Jake. There’s nothing here for me anymore. I mean, Dad is, but just because—”

“How’d you know I’m moving in with Jake?” I stupidly interrupt.

She pulls her head back so she can look at me. “I didn’t. I said you’re movingonwith him, not movinginwith him…but congratulations.” She gives me a smile. It’s weak, but I’ll take it because I know she had to dig deeply to find it.

“Thanks.” An idea hits me as quickly as the smile falls from Cassie’s face. Jake said he wanted to help, hopefully he can come through here. “Maybe Jake can help. You’re great at business and he has more connections than the Atlanta airport. Will youlet me help you come up with an actualplaninstead of just running away like a teenager? Don’t forget, you own a third of Ryder Automotive. If you’re cashing out, don’t leave money on the table.”

She reluctantly agrees before changing the subject. “Tell me about your weekend. I need something happy.”

Understanding her need to talk about something different, I fill her in on the band, the bonfire, and Jake telling me he’s in love with me. It feels like I don’t take a single breath the entire time.

When I finally pause, Cassis puts her hand on my chest and pushes herself upright.

“I’m sorry. Did you just tell me you fuckinghung outwith Beautiful Deceit and you couldn’t even FaceTime me foronesecond to let me say hello to Brett Donovan? What kind of half-assed, twin-brother, bestie-bullshit isthat?”

Oh.

Yeah, I fucked up.

“I was so fucking star-struck I could barely pull my tongue off the roof of my mouth. Then Jake told me he loved me right in the middle of the bonfire and then shit just kind of got out of control,” I admit sheepishly.

---