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One

Andrew

“This su to be hot,” my brother said

I flipped the page in“Uh huh”

“They say it’ll break records” Nick ca room “It’s only the first week of July and it’s already off the charts I checked the air conditioner,” he said, looking at me “Looks like it works fine You won’t have a problem”

“Right,” I said, puttingaway in perspective Lohite-capped waves rolling gently in Palm trees

“There will be stor onto the sofa across froes maybe”

My pencil put a lounge chair on the beach, an umbrella “I’ll be fine”

“Not if the power goes out I left an eed for the next teeks while I’one”

On the beach chair appeared Lightning Man, the superhero Nick and I wrote about in our comics That is, Nick wrote the stories and I drew the panels Lightning Man earing a cutoff version of his usual black tights and a sleeveless version of his black superhero shirt His cape was hanging on a nearby pallasses on His ar

“You know,” I told Nick as I drew, “I would keepto people Which I verynot”

“Keep it charged,” Nick growled in a voice that would intiht want to call you”

“To check up onMan wasn’t alone on this beach “I’m not helpless without you, asshole You just think I a me while you’re on your honeymoon You’re supposed to be there with Evie, remember?”

“Evie ant ic “Besides, it’s my honeymoon I’ll call whoever I want, whenever I want And you better pick up the fucking phone”

I lowered the drawing pad just enough to look at him My little brother— roo across the room at me Nick Mason was dark-haired, eous, even wearing ratty old jeans and a T-shirt Since I looked in the mirror every day, I knew he looked a lot like me, except that I was a few years older, my face was thinner, and my hair was a shade darker I had hter than his, and my eyes had darkness behind them born of experience he didn’t have But there was no doubt ere brothers

From the waist down, of course, we didn’t look alike at all Because I was in a wheelchair and he wasn’t

Seven years I’d been like this, ever since a drunk driving accident when I enty-three My buddy was drunk So was I He drove We crashed

He died I lived

That’s all I’ to say about it

Nick had been ood and bad for those seven years But noashis neife on a teek honey him stress fits to leave me, which pissed me off and warmed my cold, cold heart in equal measures

I chose option one “Would you be happier if you could put me in a kennel?” I asked him

“Shut up,” he replied “I’ out for you I’ll have my phone on in Hawaii You can text me if you need me Evie, too”