Nodding, Salem slumps against the counter. “Mornin’.”
“Do you want breakfast?” I ask, pushing to my feet and rounding the counter.
“No.”
Nora bounds into the kitchen, her hair pulled up in pigtails and her backpack hanging loosely at her side. “I’m gonna eat breakfast at school. My friend Myra wants me to. She said we could sit together.”
“That’s great, Nor,” Jasper says, grabbing his lunchbox and opening it.
Nora goes on and on the entire time he’s packing it, talking about what she’s gonna do at school. How she can’t wait to play on the monkey bars and how she’s gonna prove some little jackass—my words, not hers—wrong because shecanmake it across the monkey bars without stopping or falling.
Jasper oohs and ahhs at the right moments, his face animated and engaged. Fuck, I love him so goddamn much.
I’m listening, but I’m mostly focusing on Salem. The more Nora talks, and the more excited Jasper acts, the more annoyed he seems to become.
And when Jasper shoots her a blinding smile and tells her he can’t wait to hear all about her day tomorrow when he gets home from work, Salem scoffs.
“Hey,” I say, low enough that I don’t draw the attention of the other two. “What’s going on with you?”
Salem’s eyes dart to mine. “Me?”
“Yes.” I nod. “You. What’s going on?”
He shakes his head. “Nothing.”
“You don’t have to lie to me, Salem. I’ve known you your entire life. I know when you’re not telling me the truth.”
Rolling his eyes, he scoffs again. “Sure. Until you left us.”
My heart clenches. “When I left, Mom was doing good and had been for a while. I wouldn’t have if I’d known.”
Salem slumps a little, his shoulders curling inward. “Doesn’t matter. I’m gonna go outside and wait for the bus.”
I set my coffee mug down on the counter. “What, why?”
The only response I get is a shrug.
“Talk to me, kid.” I take a step toward him, and he takes a step back. “What’s wrong?”
He lets out a frustrated groan. “Isaidnothing.”
Frowning, I take another step. “You don’t want me to drive you?”
“Iwantyou to leave me the fuck alone,” Salem nearly shouts.
I stand in shock, my jaw falling open. For a second, everyone falls silent as Salem and I stare at each other.
“You shouldn’t talk to your brother that way, Salem,” Jasper says.
He’s not harsh or even mean. Just calm and firm, but that just seems to piss Salem off more. His eyes snap to Jasper.
“And who areyouto tell me what to say to my brother? You don’t evenknowme.” Salem rolls his eyes. “Fuck this. Fuck all of this.”
“Hey!” I snap, finally finding my voice. “Watch your mouth.”
Salem ignores me, turning on his heel and walking out of the kitchen. A few seconds later, the front door opens and then slams shut.
I stare at the empty kitchen doorway, my heart pounding and my throat tight. Tears burn the back of my eyes, and I’m about to go after Salem when Jasper wraps an arm around my stomach and hauls me against his chest.
