“Why do you think she didn’t go to Mexico with her family?” Rick’s voice. The words tug on my gut. They know I lied about the school project? Maybe they know more about the curriculum than I thought. I should have kept up some kind of act and pretended to do homework. I get in my head and miss some of the conversation.
“Poor girl. No kid should have to live like that.” Bo’s mom.
Live like what? I don’t know what assumptions they’ve made about me, but I’m doing just fine. I don’t need their charity, or their pity. I don’t deserve it. I back away and run up to the guest room. Without giving it another thought, I start packing my bag. It would be in everyone’s favor if I left before they all woke up.
I sneak downstairs again. Just as I’m passing the kitchen, water from the sink turns on, and I scream. So does Bo’s dad. His plastic water cup falls to the ground.
He brushes himself off when he realizes it’s me. “What are you doing up?” he asks. Then his eyes go to my bag. “Are you leaving?”
“Oh, I was . . . um . . .” I can’t think of a good lie right now, and I can feel blood rushing to my face. I make myself meet his eyes. “I heard you guys talking about me.”
“Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry.” He looks surprised and a little confused, like he still doesn’t get why I’m leaving.
“I don’t want to be a burden on you,” I say.
“Okay, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but what are you talking about?”
“I don’t want to make you guys fight. And you don’t have to take care of me out of pity.” I cross my arms. I know it makes me look defensive, but it’s more of a self-hug right now.
“Hon, I’m really sorry you had to hear us fighting again, but you have to know that kind of thing just happens. It has nothing to do with you, that’s not what we were saying at all.” His face softens.
“Then what were you saying?” I grip my suitcase in one hand to ground me, but also in case I want to bolt.
Rick sighs. “We wish you felt safe enough to tell us the truth about what’s going on with your family, but I get that it’s none of our business. We’re just worried about you. We care about you, Yamilet. We like having you around. You’re the furthest thing from a burden to us.”
I open my mouth, but I can’t find my words. I can’t relax my shoulders. Tears sting at my lashes, and I can feel my lip start trembling.
“I hate the idea of you being alone for so long, especially over the holidays. But if that’s really what you want, then I won’t stop you. Is that what you want?”
“No!” I hate how the word comes out like a sob. He puts a hand on my shoulder, and the touch pulls the tears out of my eyes. I don’t mean to, but I release my grip on the suitcase and fall into a hug. He flinches in surprise for a second before he starts rubbing my back.
“Hey, it’s all right. It’s all right,” he repeats over and over until I pull away.
“I’m sorry, this is so embarrassing.” I hide my face with my hands.
“Okay, I’m not an expert at this sort of thing, but it seems like there’s something bigger going on here. Do you want to talk about it?” he asks.
I bite my bottom lip to keep it from trembling.
“I miss my dad,” I whisper. I don’t even know if he can hear me.
“Maybe we should sit.” He walks over to the couch and sits, and I follow him.
“Being a teenager has got to be a really rough time for you. It’s confusing, I’m sure. There’s a lot you’re figuring out about yourself, and not everyone is going to support you. But know you have me in your corner, all right? And Emma, too. We might fight sometimes, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love each other, or Bo, or you, okay?”