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I knew how that went. They poked around, asked questions right in front of our mother, and then left.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
He shrugged again. “It’s not your fault.”
“Did you say anything?”
He kicked a pebble on the ground. “No.”
I didn’t understand why Spencer didn’t do more to be taken away. I had never heard him defend Marjorie, but he didn’t complain about her either. When he had been little, I’d thought it was because he was worried she’d beat him, but he was bigger than her now. Thebroken armthing was kind of a fluke. If Spencer went toe-to-toe with our mother, he’d win. I never understood why he held back when someone who could help him arrived, and whenever I asked, he wouldn’t give me a straight answer.
Not wanting him to feel guilty, I rubbed the hair on his head and asked, “How’s the arm?”
“Good.” Smiling, he lifted his cast. “Look at all the signatures I have on it.” He pointed to one in pink. “Even the most popular girl in school signed it.”
I laughed. “You’re such a stud.”
“Shut up, Dom.”
“Listen, I need to go, but if you need anything, call me.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
“And, hey, at least you’ll be by yourself tonight.”
“Yeah.”
“Later, bro.”
“Later.”
I hopped in my car and took off. Not in the mood to go home, I headed to Tony’s house just so I wouldn’t sit and think about my brother.
And so I wouldn’t text Vivian.
When she had told me she needed to cut things off with me, it had come as a surprise. A few days earlier, she had asked if I was free on Saturday night, and then Sunday, she was suddenly too busy?
It didn’t feel right, but I didn’t push. I had agreed to be her D appointment, and if she needed a break, I was going to give her time.
But it had made me wonder what would have happened if I had canceled my plans with Tony and Gina and gone over to Vivian’s instead.
Speaking of my two friends, I knocked on Tony’s front door and opened it before I got an answer because Tony and I had known each other for years. I found the two of them snuggling on the couch.
“Hey, man,” Tony said when he saw it was me.
“Hey. I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”
“We’re just watching some TV until dinner is done.”
“Hey, Dom,” Gina said.
“Hey.” I sniffed the air as I sat down on the adjacent recliner. “Smells good.”
Tony grinned. “I cooked.”
I raised my eyebrows. “What the fuck?”
He laughed. “I know.”
