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He smiles back and I go into my room, closing the door behind me.
Herb and Weed.
They’re ridiculous nicknames we used to call each other years ago when we were little and constantly pestering each other. Sage said I was an annoying weed, always getting in his way, and I said if I was Weed then he was Herb. It’s been a long time since either of us have used those nicknames, but tonight it’s good to hear them.
Chapter Ten
Sitting at the kitchen counter I stuff a spoonful of Captain Crunch in my mouth. Sage is already dressed, whereas I’m still chilling in my PJs, and rinses off a glass in the sink, scrubbing it so no residue of sticky orange juice clings to it.
“I have to run some errands today. You wanna go?”
“No.” I always try to pass on the weekends. Sage makes it a point to ask me, but I want him to be able to leave the condo and do things with friends or whatever without me tagging along.
“You sure? I’m going to get some groceries, so write down whatever you want on the list.”
“What list?”
He passes me his phone, open to the notepad. I have to laugh. Of course Sage would keep the list in his phone and not on an actual piece of paper.
I add a couple of items, only because I know it makes him feel better to have things in the house that I like.
“Have any plans with friends?”
He shakes his head. “Nope.”
“Sage,” I sigh, passing his phone back to him. He tucks it in his front pocket. “I know you have friends here. Go do something with them. Don’t let me stop you.”
“It’s fine.”
He truly doesn’t seem bothered but I’m bothered by it. Sage built a whole life before he got stuck with me. That shouldn’t stop because I’m here.
“You should date. Surely you were dating before I moved in.”
He blows out a breath. “You don’t need to worry about that, Dani.”
“All I’m saying is you’re a guy … you have needs, go forth and conquer.”
His mouth parts and he chokes. “No, no, no. Take that back. I don’t want you to ever talk about my needs or conquering anything ever again. You’re my little sister. No.” His whole body shakes like he’s having a seizure, but really he’s trying to rid himself of the icky feeling.
“Don’t be such a baby,” I pester, getting up to clean my empty bowl. “I’m eighteen. I know things.”
He bumps into me and I nearly drop the bowl on the floor. Some milk tips over the lip, splattering onto it instead.
“You should know absolutely nothing. You’re too young.”
I snort. “Oh, Sage. That’s adorable.”
Stepping around him I set down the bowl in the sink and grab a paper towel to wipe up the mess from the floor.
“I want to pretend this whole conversation never happened,?
?? he grumbles, walking back to his room.
I laugh to myself. “Boys.”
A minute later, he leaves his room, car keys in hand.
“Hang out with your friends, please.” He pauses at the door, looking over at me. I hop up on the kitchen counter, crossing my arms over my middle. “I know you’re worried about me, and don’t want me to be alone, but it makes me feel horrible that I’m keeping you from your life.” He opens his mouth to protest. “I know you’re fine being here with me, but it bothers me because I know you would normally be doing other things.” I can tell he’s still not convinced. He’s doing what he thinks is right, and I get that, but I don’t want to feel like this constant burden that he always has to be concerned with. “Besides,” I hop down, “I’ve made a couple of friends at school. I was thinking about seeing if one of them could hang out.”
