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“What’s up?” I cross my arms, not really wanting to let him into my room. If he finds the bag, I don’t know what I’ll tell him. I hate lying to my little brother, but I also can’t let him know the truth.

For his own protection.

“It’s about…” He trails off, glancing down the hallway. “Can we talk in private, please?”

I step aside to let him in. He flops onto the bed. I cringe and wait. “Spill it. You’re being weird.”

“Dude, give me a second, okay? This is awkward and hard for me.” He draws in a deep breath and blows it out. “I need to talk about a girl.”

My impatience evaporates. “Seriously?” I try not to laugh. Cruz has never once mentioned girls, girlfriends, or anything like that. He must get attention—I’m not weird, but Cruz is tall and handsome, and I can’t be the only person who noticed—but he never talks about it.

Until now, apparently.

“Her name’s Daisy Villarreal. She’s in my math class? I think you went to school with her oldest brother?”

I cover my mouth. I remember the guy he means: Chuck Villarreal, a shy and nerdy kid. I can’t imagine what his younger sister must be like.

“Dude, I’m getting the hell out of here if you start cracking up on me.” Cruz shoves himself up and I have to wave my hands in the air to keep him from storming out.

“No! No, seriously, don’t go. This is fantastic. Does she know you like her?”

“I didn’t say I like her,” he says sharply but quickly gathers himself and looks down at his lap. “But if I did… she wouldn’t know it.”

“Tell me about her. Do you guys talk?”

“A little bit, yeah, Daisy’s cool as hell. We like all the same stuff but I don’t know, we got different friends, you know? She’s also good as fuck at Fortnite.”

“Jesus Christ, Fortnite.” I rub my face and lean against the wall. “You two play together?”

“Yeah, sometimes. She kicks my ass.”

“That’s good. You need to be humbled.”

Cruz throws a pillow at me. “Feeling real humble right now, asking my sister for freaking girl advice!”

I laugh and throw the pillow back. Cruz beams at me in the way he has, that charming and confident and comfortable way, and slowly my heart breaks. God, my chest tightens, and I have to stare at my window to keep from letting a sob rip out of my throat.

What if this is the last time Cruz ever comes to me like this again?

Will he ever trust me after I get away from here?

I know once I’m gone that I won’t have the same relationship with him. But knowing and feeling are different things, and right now, I’m getting a glimpse of what I’ll be missing.

How many milestones? How many conversations? I won’t be here to guide him anymore, to be his sounding board, to laugh at his jokes, to shield him from Ruben and Mom.

“Uh, dude? You good?”

“I’m fine. Don’t be a dick.” I wipe my eyes and force a smile. “Here’s what you have to do. You’re not going to like it.”

“Honestly, at this point, I’m willing to try anything.”

“It’s pretty simple.” I sit on the bed next to him. “Tell her you’re into her.”

“Fuck no!”

“Don’t be a baby, Cruz. Ask her to hang out. It doesn’t have to be weird. Play Fortnite together, make some jokes, flirt or whatever you do⁠—”

“I don’t flirt!”