Page 43 of Your Rhythm
“I have two sisters, but they’re way older. They both left home when I was still a little kid. We don’t talk much.”
This isn’t secret information, but I still feel like I’m confiding in him. He looks me over without saying anything for minute. I try to read into the constant tapping of his fingers, as if he’s using some kind of Morse code.
“So Easter’s not a lively affair, I take it?”
“Not particularly.” I break my last Cheeto in two and gulp down one of the halves. “So, what about you? Got siblings?”
His whole face lights up.
“A little brother. I guess he’s not so little anymore, though. He started high school this year. Kid’s ego is getting bigger by the day. Apparently he’s pretty hot shit at school, but I don’t know if I can trust his opinion of himself.”
“Having a famous brother probably helps. You guys talk a lot?”
“I try to be there for him.” He sets the now empty Cheeto bag down, a bit of the enthusiasm in his voice fading. “That’s one part of this whole ‘getting famous’ thing that worries me. I told him I’d always be around if he needed me. That’s not something you go back on.”
“Hey.” Without thinking, I nudge his foot with mine. “I don’t know if I have the authority to say this, but I get some serious ‘I’m a good big brother’ vibes from you. I’m sure you do more than enough for him.”
He nudges me back. “Thanks.”
I fill the resulting silence with words before emotions can start flooding in.
“So just the one brother?”
“Just the one, unless you count Ace.” He barks out a bitter laugh. “I actually invited him to spend Easter with us. He’s been to Sudbury with me for holidays a few times. He said he has ‘stuff to do’ in Montreal this year.”
“He doesn’t go see his family?”
Matt hesitates. “This is confidential, right?”
I pull the neck of my hoodie to the side. “No wires here.”
He smirks. “Right. Sorry. It’s just that he’s not...really on speaking terms with them. In the five years I’ve known him, I don’t think he’s seen his parents once.”
“That’s rough. Is that why he’s such an asshole?”
The words are out of my mouth before I have to a chance process them. Matt’s look of shock starts to turn into something close to anger.
“I’m a journalist,” I rush to explain. “I read people. I know things aren’t going great between you all.”
He relaxes, going silent for a moment as he stares down at the other end of the terminal.
“He’s been through some shit. He’sstillgoing through some shit...Basically he’s just got a lot of shit to deal with.” Matt swallows. “But he’s got me too.”
“Even if he doesn’t deserve you,” I mutter.
His gaze snaps back to me as his tone takes on an edge. “That’s what being a brother is. It’s putting up with shit. It’s making a promise and sticking to it, even when you don’t want to.”
“And is Ace sticking tohispromise?”
It’s not my place to get into what’s between them, but loyalty flows out of this guy like a river, and I hate seeing it all just seep down the drain.
He shakes his head. “That’s not how it works. My friendship isn’t conditional.”
I let that hang in the air until Matt sighs and slouches further down on the wall.
“Sorry. I got a little intense there.”
I hold up my Cheeto-stained hands. “Don’t apologize. I got in over my head. At the risk of sounding like a total loser, I don’t have many friends to compare the situation to.”
