Page 38 (1/1)
That conversation--it wasn’t good But it was honest It was a start And we’ve talkedvery important She doesn’t talk about the assault, and I don’t talk about Chandra There’s so s between her and ot a text froht He wished me a Merry Christmas I’m pretty sure he was drunk It was a picture of him out with his brother at some bar, their shirts off, and beers in their hands He said he ht That’s why he shares private videos oflance one more time at the picture he sent His abs are nice, so at least there’s that I slide through a few es between Houston and me Somehow, I hit his contact button, and my phone dials him Maybe there’s a part of , it’s too late to hang up, so I let it go On the fifth ring, I’ up I’ll blame a purse dial if he sees this I’m about to bail when he answers
"Hey! Happy Christmas!" His immediate answer, his overly holly-jolly voice--it makes me smile at first, but I catch myself, force my lips back to serious
"Hey, I’ fa at the clock It’s alht in Oklahoma I didn’t need to talk to him now; this could have waited until tomorrow Or the next day I don’t knohy I called now really
"No, it’s good Leah just went to bed, andChrist over there…lasts all day," he says
We spent the day here, exchanging gifts we already knee got one another Cass o--back when she wanted to ift card to her favorite Pilates place I bought it three days ago I’ht if you had a second we could take care of that lease thing Is now okay?" I ask
"Uh…now?" he says, and I can hear hiiveon to ht I thinkhi hi to stay with us in a few days, and she has someone who loves her--really loves her
I have Houston--uess it’s Christs We can do this later this week," I start to backtrack, but he interrupts
"No, no Here, I got it Hang on, let me sit down," he says I hear his door close behind him, and I wonder where he is Is he in his room? In his bed? I bet he wears one of those old- shirt and pants
"Current address? Did you hear me?" Hehiuess…do you want the Delta address?" I ask
"Your parents’ address is fine It’s just so my o through a short list of questions, filling out s, which all point back to , and Houston typing, we’re done
Done I can go back to flipping through celebrityChrist to chip away at the ice I’ve formed between my sister and me
"Did she like her horse?" My question takes hiue I just didn’t want to hang up yet Even not talking to Houston is better than not talking to nobody
"The horse?" he asks, but quickly following ht on with that She’s sleeping with it"
"Good," I say, and I let myself smile, a little proud I’ silence that settles in again, and I start to get that sinking sensation inpolite Me calling--on Christ to make it weird when I move in