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"Feeling abandoned Worthless Inferior Fuck No wonder you don't believe in love"

"And you do?"

"I do" He turns to me "Despite all evidence to the contrary"

"Lia about?"

"What if he was gone? Your dad? And you didn't know Do you think it would be better to keep it that way? Or would you want the truth?"

Is this about his late brother? "I don't know If he was gone, I couldn't do anything I couldn't tell my mom to leave him I couldn't confront him about his behavior"

He nods "You can't fix your relationship anymore You lose that possibility forever"

"I didn't think about it that way" I place my hand next to his "Is that how you feel about Bash?"

"Soht, sometimes, but it wasn't like with Simon It was… normal"

"Bossy older siblings who keep secrets are normal"

"I guess you'd know"

"I would"

"Does your kid sister ever listen to you?"

"She wouldn't even let me teach her how to draw her eyeliner"

He chuckles "What about books?"

I shake my head "She doesn't like to read"

"So nothing?"

"I taught her how to cook Since Dad was never around And Mouess

"No one ever took care of you?"

"Soh my teeth "She wasn't always depressed Soh, she took us to this sandwich shop on the way hoe it was absurd—and she ate like she hadn't eaten a proper meal in months"

"Had she?"

"No She'd stay in her rooar potato chips They made the whole room smell sour I still can't stand them" My nose scrunches at the ot the barbecue It was this syar"

"And that was the only thing that got her out of bed?"

"Maybe" My laugh is sad "Maybe it was that sesture I don't know"

"I'm sorry"

"You are?"

"That your parents weren't there It's fucked up"

"Thanks"

"My parents were gone, but I had Preston And Trish And even fucking Sireat job But I kneas there I knew people would help if I needed it I… Fuck, Bri, I wish I could make it better"

"I can take care of myself"

"I know you can" His eyes meet mine "I wish you didn't have to Not all the time"

"Who else would do it?"

"Someone who loves you"

My stomach flutters

"Isn't that love? Being a shoulder when someone needs it?"

"You're still asking the wrong person"

"I know I'uess"

"Me too"

"You should go to bed"

"You too," I say "Or at least put on so dry"

"You're already wet"

"Did you just say that with a straight face?"

He half-smiles "Do you want to make it dirty? 'Cause I will"