Page 78 of For The Record

I reach for the popcorn bowl. Empty. “Yes.”

“That sounded like a lie.”

“It’s not.”

“How do I know?”

“I only keep secrets from her for her own good. She’s my little sister, she shouldn’t have to deal with this.”

“But she is having to deal with it, Leo. What are you going to do about it?”

“Skye, can we drop it?”

“No.”

The TV clicks off, and Skye crosses her legs lotus-style, facing me. Her left arm is bare of the bracelet that she typically wears—the bracelet from Ryder with a music note. “I think you should tell her.”

“There’s nothing to tell. Antonio isn’t her father. Ricardo is—Ricardowas.”

“Maybe, but you’re a family. Family doesn’t keep secrets from each other.”

“I’m not keeping secrets from her.”

“Did you know she got a nose piercing?”

“I saw that,” I lie.

“You’ve barely seenher.”

Between her Catholic school hours, my work, and selling our parents’ property and dealing with everything they’ve left behind… we’ve had a lot on our plates.

“Skye, I love you, but you’re my girlfriend, not Raina’s older sister.”

“You’re the closest thing she has to a dad.”

“My parents kept secrets from me, too. And I survived.”

“The other day, she asked me to take her to get a tattoo. I don’t think she’s okay.”

“I thought our conversation was about the key?”

“The key is a symptom.”

“A symptom of what, exactly?”

“I’m worried about you. You’re trying to protect her by pushing her away.”

“You’ve made that abundantly clear.”

“Can we see the safe deposit box?”

“No,” I say, going to tuck it back into my pocket.

She’s quicker, grabbing it from me in a ticklish maneuver that’s entirely unfair.

I shake my head, more exasperated than really frustrated. “You’re the worst.”

Making one lunge for the key, I end up on top of Skye, and the key flies from both our grasps, skidding onto the floor. Just then, Raina chooses that moment to jump down the stairs and land next to the living room. Seeing the two of us entangled on the rug, she shields her eyes. “Gross!”

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