Page 163 of Heart Strings & Hotlines
“Have you been talking to Wes?” I ask.
She nods. “On Snapchat.”
“When did you swap information with him?” And why am I sweating profusely?
Her eye roll now comes with a sound effect that is similar to someone hocking up a loogie.
“When we had lunch with him and his family in New York last time.”
“When? I was talking with him the entire time.”
“Thane.” Lottie squeezes my forearm. “It’s okay. They’ve just been talking. She has a soft spot for him.”
Damn it. So do I, but that doesn’t mean I want my sister getting cozy with him.
“He’ll hate the dance.”
“It’s a silent dance party. Everyone gets headphones.” Kara is no longer crying, but I don’t appreciate this expression either. “I helped plan it. It’s part of our inclusivity program.”
Wait, what?
Kara grins at Lottie.
“Go ahead, tell him,” Lottie encourages.
“Well, since we’ve been going to therapy together, I’ve learned a lot about you. And then I did some research and found that it’s more common than I realized, and a lot of kids have sensitivities that range from annoyances to hinderances. Is that a word?”
“Yes.”
“Right. Well, I went to the principal with this idea, and she loved it. That’s what the bake sale was for. We had to raise the money for headphones. There won’t be any disco balls or strobe lights either. But there will be quiet corners, and small group chat rooms. Oh, and Boone is bringing in these canopies to cover the gym lights to make them softer, but he donated those, and they’ll stay in the school for students who need them in classrooms.”
“Why?” My throat is closing up. “Why would you do this?”
She shrugs, but I know this is something big, huge, and my heart is trying to burst through my chest.
“Come on Brad, we can learn from Dad’s mistakes and do better. You shouldn’t have been able to get to thirty-two years old without the necessary tools. If I can help bring awareness to people who struggle like you did, then it kind of feels like Dad failed.”
Dad failed.
She’s doing this because of me, for me, out of love.
“Kara.” My voice is much too loud, but I’m too shaky to control it. She slowly lifts her gaze to mine. “That might be the nicest thing anyone has ever done on my behalf. I—I’m so proud of you for thinking it up on your own, and for finding a way to stick it to Jonah.”
She laughs, and it sounds watery. Gross.
“So, you think it’s okay to ask Wes?”
She’s calling him Wes? I’m going to be sick.
“You can,” I say. Charlotte pinches my side—it’s become her silent way of saying tone. “You can,” I try again. “But don’t be upset if he says no. I’m not sure I could have handled a school dance at your age, even with all the accommodations in place.”
Charlotte winks at Kara, and my stomach ramps up its struggle with other organs. “Oh, I don’t think he’ll say no, Kara.”
My litter sister blushes. Fucking blushes.
“What do you know that I don’t?” My wife completely ignores me.
“Go ahead, go ask him. If Mrs. Westbrook wants to chat with me about it, tell her to call me.”
