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“Well, Mom’s cakes are dry as hell!”
The response is so immediate and ridiculous that we both pause. I laugh first, and Lewis cracks a smile.
“C’mon, Laurie, you know why I care,” he says softly.
I pick at the blanket. “Whatever.”
“We have to talk.”
I look at him. He looks like Mom, with the same pinched brow and disappointed quirk of his mouth. It makes me fidget.
“I don’t wanna.”
I know I sound petulant. When he lifts a brow, I can’t even defend myself.
“Look, Jessi tells me that David… is… a good guy.” It sounds like it’s hard for him to believe. I swallow hard. “And, the thing is, I like Dave. We’ve been friends for a long time. I… dating is out of character for him.”
I try not to make a face.
“Usually,” Lewis continues, oblivious. “He just sleeps around. I think part of why I was so mad is I just assumed that you were just… one of the many secrets he keeps.”
Ithurts. I tighten my fingers in the blanket to keep my face as blank as I can.
“But, I mean, he’s introduced you to the kids, so it’s not like that. I know how serious he is with them.”
I know none of this is my fault—not any more than David’s, at least—but I feel guilty.
“Then why are you here?” I ask.
Lewis sighs heavily, nose scrunching. “Because,” he grumbles. “I wanted to check in. One on one. Before this date?—”
“We could cancel!” I interrupt immediately.
He scoffs. “As if. We will be going, and I will be keeping an eye on him.”
I sigh.
“But, like, Laurie, if you’re—if you’re just in over your head, you can tell me. I’ll help you, you know that, right?” He leans forward towards me, one hand on the back of the couch. My brother’s expression is open and honest, and I feel so, so terrible for lying.
“I’m not in over my head.”
Lewis grabs my hand. It’s far more familiar than we normally are—my family isnotone of huggers—and the seriousness of it grabs me.
“Laura James, you are dating your boss who ismyage,” he says firmly. “Youarein over your head.”
“Are you just here to berate me for my life choices?” I grumble.
Lewis gives me an annoyed look. “No. I’m here to check in on you.”
“Well, you did that.”
I know I’m being rude and that he is just trying to be a good brother—but it is hard enough dealing with this from Alice, I can’t handle it from Lewis, too.
“I’ll… set up the date,” he says, standing up. I go to let him out. “Just… you can count on me, okay? Call me, and I’ll make sure he leaves you alone.”
“I’m okay, Lewis,” I say, and this, at least, is not a lie. “He wouldn’t hurt me.”
He hugs me, quick and fast. When he pulls back, he seems equally surprised by his actions.
