“We’ll go,” the buzz-cut guy says and then nods to Garrison. “Let’s buy that six-pack and head to the elementary school playground.”
My stomach twists, but I can’t force anyone to do anything. I know this. I stand up the minute the rest of them do, and they all gather to leave. As he passes me on his way out, Garrison gives me a long once-over, his lip either curling in distaste…or maybe something else.
And then he pushes the bottle in my hands. “Here, you won’t be such a pussy if you drink.”
“If that’s what you think,” I say without falter. And then I chuck the bottle in the nearby trash.
His bewildered face is priceless.
I turn my back on them, hearing the chimes to the door as they exit. I feel Ryke next to me. And to my brother, I ask, “Do you think that’ll work?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you know?” I ask.
He pats my shoulder. “That I’m really fucking proud of you.”
It takes me aback for a moment, and I breeze through the previous conversation. I wasn’t malicious or hateful or vindictive. I didn’t treat those teenagers how my father would’ve treated me. I was just honest.
I let out a breath, and then I scan the store for Lily and our son, not spotting her behind the checkout counter. “Maya,” I call out as I see her zipping down an aisle. “Where’s Lily?”
“Break room. Garth is with her. Thank you for handling those guys!” She gestures to the now empty booth.
“If you have trouble again like that, text me.”
She bows and then she shouts a phrase in Korean. I’ve learned that it’s actually supposed to be in English, a saying from Battlestar Galactica: “So say we all.”
Just as I’m about to leave Superheroes & Scones, someone says, “Loren?”
Ryke goes rigid as a girl sneaks up behind him and slides closer to me. My face falls as I get a good look at her.
No.
It can’t be…I shake my head in a daze. She’s older, I guess around seventeen now. The first and only time I’d ever seen her—she was in middle school.
Jesus Christ. That was a long time ago.
“Hi,” she says, nervously adjusting her backpack. She keeps licking her lips like she doesn’t know what else to do.
Ryke butts in, “Do you want an autograph or a picture or something?” He’s nice about it, but he’s six-foot-three and intimidating to stare at. In fact, she tries to meet his eyes but can’t.
She pushes her large glasses up her nose. “No…thanks.”
Ryke turns to me like what should we do?
She’s not being weird. There’s no manual on how to go about these things, and I can’t believe she had the courage to even find me. It must’ve taken weeks in order to get this close.
She takes a deep breath and looks straight at me. “I’m—”
“My sister,” I finish. My half-sister. Like Ryke, only on the other side. “Willow, right?”
Her mouth drops. “You…remember me?”
“Yeah.” I give her a weak smile. “The day I met my birth mother is one I really can’t forget.”
“Oh…”
Ryke is stunned to silence. His eyes flicker back and forth between us.
“Do you want to talk over coffee?” I ask. “Maybe in the break room?”
Without hesitation, Willow nods—and her eyes well with tears. Relieved. She’s relieved. There was a chance that I could’ve slammed a door in her face. Told her to hop on a bus back to Maine. I didn’t.
I won’t.
After truly knowing Ryke, I can’t fathom shutting the door on a sibling. It’s a bond that’s different than a friendship. It’s one that hurts more if it breaks, but when it’s whole, it means everything.
{ 58 }
LOREN HALE
The break room clears out some when I take the bright blue couch with Willow, coffees in hand. I plan to talk to Lily later, but for now, Ryke whispers to her and ushers her upstairs to my office with Moffy and Garth.
Willow sets her ratted jean backpack on the ground, one of the pockets torn open from overuse. “I…” she trails off and cups the coffee with two hands.
Too many questions hit me at once, but we have to start somewhere. “How’d you find out about me?” I ask the most important one.
She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. She’s timid and a little shy, but I can’t tell if that’s her personality or just her reaction towards me. “My parents divorced about a year ago,” she mumbles.