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“It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.” Carter takes Casey’s hand and pulls him towards the closet. He’s not exactly surewhyhe wants to do this in the closet. Maybe because it’s been his safe place in the past. Maybe because he’s crazy. It doesn’t really matter.
He lowers himself to the closet floor. After a second’s hesitation, Casey follows.
Carter answers the call. “H-hello?”
“Carter. Shit, I – hey, baby brother,” Maison says in a voice that shifts from shock to relief and joy. “God, it’s good to hear your voice. How are you? How have things been? God, I-”
“I’m here with Casey,” Carter says quickly, wanting to cut his brother off. “I’m not calling to talk about… Well, I’m just - I’m here with Casey. Benny told him the truth.”
“Oh. Right.” Maison clears his throat, but he doesn’t manage to clear away the disappointment in his voice. It’s clear as day when he continues. “Hey, Casey. It’s nice to sort of meet you. How are you settling in?”
Casey eyes Carter before leaning forward and whispering right in his ear, “How do you know it’s really him?”
Carter puts a finger up, asking Casey to wait. “Can you prove to Casey that you’re my brother? I want to ask you a question or two.”
“Carter, we already did this. The first time we spoke, you didn’t believe it was me. We did this.”
“But Casey wasn’t there. Humor us.”
“Okay. Of course. Sure. Whatever you need.”
Casey seems to relax at that, but he still looks plenty skeptical. Carter asks the first question he can think of. “Who was my first kiss?”
Maison chuckles. “That would be with Bailey Marshall. Your 16thbirthday. You had a sleepover party with all your friends, and the two of you snuck off during the bonfire and kissed behind mom’s tool shed. You told me it was like fireworks. I gave you shit about the cheesiness of that for months.”
Casey looks at Carter, waiting for him to confirm. Carter nods. “You totally did. So much shit. I hated you.”
“You got me back. Remember when you found out about me having that threesome with Mrs. Burns and her husband? To the day of your kidnapping, you still weren’t letting me live that shit down.”
“To the day of my kidnapping?” Carter makes apsshsound. “I’m still giving you shit for that brother. You’re not getting away with it just because I got fucking kidnapped. Good try though.”
“It was one threesome! One night!”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Carter looks off to the side, his chest suddenly feeling tight as he remembers he’s supposed to be mad at his brother. That it was his brother’s fault he was kidnapped. His brother’s fault he was lied to. His brother’s fault that Nathan was able to shatter his fucking heart. “Um – that good enough for you, Case?”
“I just… this is all…”
“Ridiculous?” Carter asks. “I know. But do you believe us?”
Casey draws his knees up to his chest and takes in a breath. When he releases it, it comes out as a sob. Placing the phone to the side, Carter pushes forward and wraps his arms around his friend, holding him close. Casey folds into him and sobs harder.
“I’m so sorry,” he can hear Maison saying over and over. “I’m so sorry.”
