page113 (1/2)

“Gram saved me,” she continued “And Grandpa and Grandma Vera They saved me I had people to protect me”

“Doesn’thard

“It does matter,” she said, even softer “Because you were the only one who could’ve gotten to Rose in time”

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” I said dismissively

“Don’t do that,” Lily ordered, her tone fir

“I didn’t,” I said emphatically “It wasn’t a conscious decision If I would’ve thought about it, I would’ve saved my own ass first”

“Doesn’t sound like it,” she said “Because you did the sa today You didn’t save your own ass today”

“Leo was closer,” I tried to explain “I wasn’t sure which way to go, and—”

“Bullshit,” she said, cohtly around ainst my sore back “You protected him when he couldn’t protect himself,” she whispered into my ear “Thank you, sissy You saved him for me”

Closingmy face into her shoulder She smelled familiar, like family Like Lily

“I really didn’tof ainst mine

“It doesn’tto smooth the hair down the back of my head “You still did it”

We held each other quietly for a moment It was the first time in years that I’d had any physical contact with my little sister that didn’t feel forced You don’t realize how ione

“Well,” I said, pulling back as I got myself under control We had an audience, and as edholes in my skin like tiny lasers

“The doctors say he’ll be okay,” Lily said, stepping away slightly to give et a really nasty infection They have to do skin grafts, though, and try to fix his hand and wrist They think he must have reached out to break his fall then the bike went down, and he slid pretty far, which is why he—” she got choked up and cleared her throat “That’s why the road rash is so bad But thank God, most of it is superficial”

“They’re pretty sure they can savehis arm around my shoulder, completely unconcerned withroad”