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Mina had never been able to fall asleep in the arms of those men, something she should have understood as a sign of trouble.
“I know. And I appreciate it. I won’t tell you not to worry, but I think this is one of the good ones.”
Unreliable men straining for degrees of distance weren’t the only men in her past. There had been two, both while she was in grad school, who had been supportive and open and loving. But neither of those two men had ended up being the one, and she hadn’t been the one for them, either. Still, memories of those men and those relationships had been what kept her willing to keep trying.
“Whatever happens, just know that we love you.”
“I do. I love you, too, Mom. And make sure to tell Dad.”
Mina and her mom finished their goodbyes, and she hung up, ready for a day of errands, grading and trying to keep the complexities of life from intruding on living.
* * *
“LEVI, I CALLED you several times last night,” Brook said as she answered the phone.
“I told you that I would be out late and that I’d call you today.” His sister had left two messages on his voice mail and texted him five times. He’d ignored them all, but he couldn’t ignore her forever. Especially when the only way to deal with his sister when she was being passive-aggressive was to cut right to the chase. “How you treated Mina last night was unacceptable.”
“I thought you’d decided not to go on a date with her. Because, well, you know.”
“Because she’s HIV positive. If you’re going to be afraid of touching her hand, you should at least be honest about why.” Anger clamped down on his ribs. “Be. Able. To. Say. The Words.”
If Brook noticed the irritation in his voice, she ignored it. “She drank out of your beer glass. And you shared a pizza.”
“We shared more than a pizza.” He regretted the way he took her bait and demeaned the kiss he’d shared with Mina as soon as the combative words were out of his mouth.
“Did you have sex with her?”
“Brook, that is absolutely none of your business. In fact, my entire relationship with Mina is none of your business.”
“You’re my brother, and I care about you. I’ve cared for you since Mom left. I saw you after Kimmie died.”
“Is that what this is about?” he asked, the hope in his voice clear, even to himself. Mina was, well, Mina was amazing. He could sit on her couch with her head in his lap and listen to her talk for hours. She was warm, loving, creative, funny and hot. Not only would he want to sit and listen to her for hours, but he would want to sit and look at her for hours.
Brook was his big sister. As kids, they’d parked themselves on the front steps of their house and cried together the first time they’d come home to an empty house. She’d taught him what it meant to care about someone, and when Kimmie had been suffering through her worst depressive episodes, Brook had been there for him. His sister’s support had enabled him to be there for Kimmie.
“Of course. What else would this be about?” Brook sounded so reasonable that Levi was immediately suspicious again.
“You didn’t want to shake her hand, Brook. You can’t get HIV from shaking her hand.”
His sister was silent for several seconds before she responded. “I’m not worried about me getting HIV.”
“Well, I’m not worried about me getting it, either. Go online.”
“I did,” Brook interrupted. “Right after we talked on the phone.”
Levi rolled his eyes. “Don’t read scaremongering websites. Read... Never mind. I’ll send you links to read.”
“How do you know the websites you read are the ones telling the truth and the ones I read are lying?”
“Don’t be this person, sis. I don’t know what your problem is, but call me back when you get over it.” His piece said, Levi swiped the phone off, missing his landline, which was much more satisfying to slam.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ON THURSDAY WHEN he saw Mina’s kitchen light come on, Levi texted, Hey. Good day?
Two classes today. Russian lit and my graphic novel class. The gn course turned in their first assignment.
