Page 10 (1/2)

Racing up the stairs, I root around for clean sheets and pillow covers in the hallway closet Heavy footsteps sound on the stairs, and Andrew co on, man?"

"Sandy's gonna stay inthe couch"

"Yeah I got that part I uys?"

Shrugging, I force an even expression ontoIout while her car is in the shop"

"Yeah? Just helping out?"

"Just come out and say what you mean," I bark

Andrew leans against the wall, his hand sliding into his pocket as though he's trying to"This is Sandy" He emphasizes her name, and my stomach clenches

"Yeah"

"This is you and Sandy," he repeats, even though I got histhe first time

"I know, man What do you want me to do?"

Andrew cocks his head, and his ice-blue eyes fix on mine With his pale blond hair and tan skin, he looks like a Disney prince just waiting for his princess A prince with lots of tattoos "I want you to be careful, okay You're in a good place This…we've all worked for this I don't want you risking the progress you made, okay?"

"I'ood You don't have to worry about me"

Andrew shakes his head "We're brothers from another mother," he says "I'll alorry about you, the sa and Daot each other's backs, no matter what"

"I know," I say "And I've got yours"

"So, just listen when I tell you to be careful"

My fist balls the soft fabric of the bedcovers in my palm "Sometimes it's impossible to be careful, Andrew Soh you don't want it to"

"I get it," he says "Sandy…she's special"

"Special?"

"The whole package Pretty, set you've told us all about her, and noe get to see her in the flesh"

"And you agree?" I ask

"She's just about perfect," Andrew says, and although a sliver of jealousy runs through uys are important to me, and so is Sandy If they could like each other, it would mean a lot