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“I didn’t say they didn’t deserve it,” Bird muttered.
“I just mean that it’s not like Pop is getting less than everyone else,” I said, putting a bowl of macaroni and cheese in front of him. “Some of them have just got side gigs that are working out.”
“Thanks,” Bird said, reaching for his fork. “I don’t like being poorer than everyone else. They’re like, college? Of course I’m goin’ to college. Everyone goes to college. It costs money? Whatever. My dad will pay for it. And I’m over here like, who has a freakin’dad?”
“Preaching to the choir, brother,” I said with a laugh, sitting down with him. “But don’t worry, I’ll help you out.”
“You’re working two jobs.” He glanced at me. “You’re already worried about money. I just wish I could get a job.”
“Are you kidding?” I asked, shaking my head. “You worry about school, alright? You don’t need a job. Good grief. You’re a baby. I’m banking most of what I make. I give a little to Nana to help out, pay my two bills, and put gas in the car. That’s it. I’m saving as much as I can forbothof us.”
“That’syourmoney. I’m not going to take your money.”
“You sure as hell are,” I argued, thumping his knuckles with the back of my fork.
“You’re going to need it if you get into that school.”
“Oh, notif. I’m getting into that school,” I assured him with a cocky grin. “And you’re going to eventually get into all the schools you apply to and then we’ll just have to decide which one you feel like going to—the one that has sunshine three hundred and fifty days a year or the one with the best football program or the one with the best science program—”
“Football is stupid,” he said, shooting me a look.
“Noted,” I said with a shrug. “But the best teams have the best parties.”
“How the hell would you know that?”
“I just assume,” I replied defensively, while he laughed. “I’m just saying, you’re going to go wherever you want and it’s going to be great. Don’t worry.”
We were quiet for a while, eating, until Bird looked up, frowning.
“Do you think Pop actually killed someone?”
I chose my words carefully. While Bird knew that the Aces weren’t exactly on the right side of the law when it came to most of their side work, my baby brother was surprisingly naïve when it came to Pop’s lifestyle. “I think that whatever he did, he’s been paying for longer than we’ve been alive.”
“I just can’t imagine him actually killing someone,” he murmured.
“Maybe it was an accident,” I replied quietly. “Or something stupid, like a bar fight or something.”
“Yeah.”
“It happened way before we were born.”
“Yeah.” He pushed his empty bowl to the side and picked up his pencil again.
His was bent over and tiny strands of hair were falling out of his ponytail into his face, and for a second, I was transported back to when we were little and he had been blissfully unaware of anything more important than staying up past his bedtime and whether or not he could sneak candy from the kitchen drawer.
“Hey,” I said, waving my hand over the chemistry book. “Why don’t you put that away and we’ll go get ice cream.”
“It’s due tomorrow,” he argued halfheartedly.
“So, you’ll have time to finish when we get back.”
“I thought you were saving money.” He raised one eyebrow.
“I’m pretty sure that I can spare a few dollars for ice cream.”
Bird narrowed his eyes. “I’m getting two scoops or I’m staying here and doing chemistry.”
“Come on, butthole,” I said, shoving him as I brought the dishes to the sink. “I’ll get you two scoops.”
