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“It wasn’t a secret. You’ve just been unavailable.”
By six p.m. Drew is waiting outside my door. He told our mother he’s studying at a friend’s house and came directly here to meet “an awesome musician” who he claims is his best friend.
I reminded him that I’m his actual brother and also in the same band.
He said forced family doesn’t count.
“What’s up, bro?” Drew asks when I open the door. “Where’s Luca?”
“Good to see you too.”
“I see you all the time.”
“ANDREW!” Luca shouts from the couch, both arms spread.
Drew shoulders past me. “LUCA!”
They embrace like men reunited after a war rather than two idiots meeting for the first time.
“This is weird,” I tell them.
Drew releases him. “Jealous?”
“Of what?”
Luca puts an arm around his shoulders. “Our natural chemistry.”
“You’ve known each other physically for four seconds.”
“And yet he understands me better than you ever have.” He fawns dramatically.
Drew howls with laughter.
This is going to be a fucking disaster.
“Cal didn’t tell me you were this tall.” Luca holds Drew at arm’s length. “You’re taller than him.”
“By one inch,” I say.
“An inch matters.”
“Spoken like a five-eleven man.”
Luca puts a hand to his chest. “Five-eleven and three quarters.”
“You don’t get to use fractions after puberty.”
“Andrew. Sit. Tell me everything. I want to know about hockey.”
“Football,” Drew corrects.
Luca waves him off. He’s about as into sport as I am. Aka, not one bit.
“Actually, I want to know about the girls of Mountain Springs. And I’d like to know which of Cal’s childhood secrets you’re willing to sell me.”
“All of them,” Drew says, sitting down. “I’m an open book. I have no loyalty.”
“I love this boy,” Luca says to me. “I’m keeping him.”