Page 2 of Hide and Sneak
“Nobody important. He’ll be gone soon,” I interject while Sutton gives her a polite smile.
Mom rings my phone again as Amos says, “Actually, that’s not true. I need to talk to you for a second.”
Sutton whips his head around to stare incredulously at Amos. “You said she was cool with it!”
“She is! I just…give me a minute!” Amos insists, pulling me away from everyone.
“What’s going on?” I demand when we get to my front porch and out of earshot of the others.
“You know Sutton and I have been sharing an apartment. We were both evicted. He doesn’t have anywhere to go.”
No. No way. Under no circumstances am I living with Sutton Yates. He drives me crazy with his irresponsible, careless lifestyle that’s a big part of why my brother is the same way. Amos was a decent guy before they became friends. As soon as they started hanging out, he changed. Partying, vandalism, shoplifting. They got into a lot of shit as teenagers and Amos carried on into his twenties. I can’t imagine the last few years have changed that considering they’re both homeless now.
“Absolutely not. You’re lucky that you’re staying with me.”
“I know that. But listen, I can’t stay here and leave him to sleep in his truck. He’s my best friend.”
“You need better friends. He’s not my responsibility!” Neither is my brother, but it’s always felt that way. He was the golden child, the one who could do no wrong.
“Just think about it, Liles! We can split the rent three ways. You’ll save so much money.”
“No. My rent is based on income. I have no trouble affording it. If you’d told me the truth from the beginning, you could’ve applied for one of the trailers on your own. Now, they’re all rented and there’s a waiting list.”
“I already told him he could stay.”
“And now you’re going to tell him he can’t.”
Amos blows out a frustrated breath, running a hand over his face. “Then I can’t stay either. I can’t believe you’re doing this. We’re both going to be sleeping in our cars.”
I’m not going to let him guilt me into it. “That’s your choice, not mine.”
My phone beeps, and I see three missed calls from Mom and a voicemail alert. Something could be wrong. I don’t want to ignore an emergency.
“Mom is blowing up my phone,” I grumble, and walk away from him to listen to the voicemail.
“Lila, you must be busy helping the boys get moved in and settled. You don’t need to call me right back. I just wanted to tell you how wonderful it is to know they’ll be staying with you. You know how I worry. You don’t know how much it means that I can always count on you to look after your brother. I’m so proud of you. Please tell Amos to call me or come visit, and tell Sutton I said hello.”
Fuck.
Amos is talking with Sutton out by his truck and neither of them look happy. Sutton’s hands are flying around, and it looks like he’s lecturing Amos. What am I going to do? Either I let them both stay or call my mom and tell her they’re on the street because Amos won’t leave his friend. Which seems noble and unlike him to be honest, but I’m definitely going to be the bad guy in all of this.
While I’m arguing with myself, Sutton walks across the yard toward me. “Hey, I’m sorry that Amos just dropped this on you. He told me you agreed to let both of us stay since he got us evicted.”
“That doesn’t make it my responsibility.”
“Of course it doesn’t. But hear me out. If you let me move in too, I’ll pay three months upfront, my part of the rent and his.”
“Why would you pay his part?”
Sutton shakes his head. “He didn’t tell you he lost his job?”
“No, he damn well didn’t,” I reply through gritted teeth.
Sutton gives me a commiserating smile. “Look, I know you don’t want him mooching off you. I told him I’d pay his part of the rent too if he found us a place to go. I’ll have a house soon. Ifyou let me move in too, I’ll take him with me when my house is ready, and it won’t be an issue for you again.”
That explains why Amos won’t stay without him, because he needs him to cover his expenses. Silence reigns as I seethe at the position my brother has put me in. With crossed arms, I sigh and regard Sutton. “Fine. You also need to chip in on food and stuff. You can settle up with him afterward for whatever he owes you.” A smile starts to bloom on his face as I glare at him. “And you two will not turn my trailer into party central. I have to be up early for work and I’m not going to have a house full of people all night.”
“I hear you. I work early too.”
