Page 148 of If I Could

And that house? Wow. It was gorgeous. What a huge change for Kyle to have to leave that and go live in what must’ve seemed like a shack in comparison. Miller’s house is old and small and needs a lot of repairs.

It takes us almost an hour to get back to the city. When we’re almost at the hotel, I check the back seat and see that Cain is asleep, his head falling to the side. I look over at Kyle, whose staring out at the road, deep in thought, probably wondering how the hell his life took such an odd and unexpected turn. Living in Kansas? Raising his little brother? His dad headed to prison?

Maybe that’s why Kyle and I had such a strong connection when we first met. We both had our lives uprooted and turned upside down from forces outside our control. And the uncertainty and apprehension that resulted from that brought us together, bonded us to each other, made us fall in love.

We’ve both been through hell, but if we can get through that, we can get through anything.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

THREE MONTHS LATER

SAGE

“What’s for dinner?”Cain asks as he comes into the kitchen. He grabs a chocolate milk from the fridge and shakes the bottle to mix it up.

Kyle and I just got done putting groceries away. It’s nice not to have to scrimp on food anymore. I can go to the store and buy whatever I want. Sometimes I feel guilty letting Kyle pay for groceries and all our other bills but when I tell him that, he says we’re a couple now and his money is mine. He’s always been generous like that, even when we weren’t a couple.

“I don’t know,” Kyle says to his brother. “What are you making us?”

“I can’t make dinner. I have homework.” Cain takes off for his bedroom.

“Lame excuse!” Kyle yells after him.

I laugh. “What do you think he’d make us?”

“Probably bowls of cereal with marshmallows on top.”

“And chocolate milk,” I add.

“The kid does love chocolate milk. As soon as we buy it, it’s gone.”

“I know.” I bite my lip. “Although I might’ve had a bottle or two myself.”

“You’re the one drinking all the milk?” He pulls me down on his lap and tickles me.

“I’m sorry,” I say, laughing. “I’ll never do it again.”

He stops tickling me and kisses me. “I’ll buy you all the chocolate milk you want. And anything else you want.”

I sigh. “I wish I had my own money so you wouldn’t have to pay for everything.”

“Hey, don’t start. It’sourmoney, not mine. And you’re not getting a job. You’re going to finish school first.”

“You can’t tell me what to do,” I tease.

“No, but I can kiss you until you break down and agree with me.” He does just that, kissing me until I forget all about money and jobs and who’s paying for what.

My phone rings and I get off Kyle’s lap to answer it. It’s my mom.

“Hey, Mom, what’s up?”

My mom decided to stay in New York but she moved out of her friend’s place and got her own apartment. It’s super tiny but she’s not there much. She’s always in the studio, which she rents out with other artists. She’s living her dream. I’m so happy for her.

I’m happy for me too. I’m back in school and so is Kyle, but he’s not in college. He’s taking some writing classes taught online by some guy who’s written like thirty novels. So far, Kyle likes the classes and since they’re online, he’s able to be home with Cain after school and take him wherever he needs to go.

Cain just turned 13 so he’s officially entered his teen years but he hasn’t hit a rebellious stage yet. He’s a really good kid. He keeps his room clean and does his homework, and for the most part he listens when you tell him to do something. He likes his new school but he’s still having a rough time accepting the fact that his dad is a criminal.

Given all the evidence against him, there’s a good chance Cain’s dad will be convicted and sentenced to many years in prison. That’s hard for a kid Cain’s age to deal with. It’s hard for anyone to find out their father wasn’t the person you thought he was. I know that first-hand. I’ve told Cain my story in hopes that it would bring us closer and it has. Cain feels like a brother to me now. My sometimes annoying, but usually sweet little brother.

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