Page 32 of Hale

“Oh, shit,” I grumble when we pull into the driveway at Aunt Becky’s. “I forgot to make you take your pill.”

Rylie shrugs. “I don’t need it.”

“You do.” I reach behind her seat and dig it out of my backpack. “Here.”

She lets out a huff but steals my Mountain Dew to chase down her pill. “Ahhh. There. Happy?”

I grab her hand and squeeze it. “I just don’t want you to hurt. Those pills help you.”

The tension bleeds from her and she nods. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ve just been under Aunt Becky’s thumb for too long. She makes me feel like I’m in the nuthouse and she’s my evil nurse.”

We both laugh because Aunt Becky is kind of a control freak.

My phone rings and I groan. I’ve been avoiding Amy’s calls. Unfairly so. She’s my girlfriend and I can’t avoid her forever.

“Grab a shower,” I tease. “You stink. I’ll unload all this.”

As soon as she climbs out, I call Amy back.

“Hey, Hudson,” she greets.

“Hey, babe.”

“They’re having a block party at the downtown district tonight. You should come. I’ll be helping Mom run the store, but she’ll let me out early and maybe we can watch the bands or something.”

“Yeah, of course.”

“I’ve missed you. I thought…”

“What?”

“I thought you could come alone,” she murmurs, shame in her voice.

Anger swells up inside me. Of course she should feel ashamed. She’s asking me to leave behind my sister knowing she’s fragile lately.

Amy bursts into tears and speaks before I can answer. “I’m sorry. Gah, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just missing you and want to spend time with you.”

I relax and run my fingers through my dirty hair. “I’ll be there. See you soon.”

“I love you,” she says.

“You too.”

I click off my phone and spend the next half hour unloading the truck. My mind is elsewhere as I shower and get ready. When I finally emerge from the bathroom, Rylie is passed out on the couch. She’s wearing a pair of my Razorback sweats and a tank top. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail, still wet, and her nose and cheeks are red from sunburn.

I should let her sleep.

Slip away to avoid hurting her feelings.

But…

I tickle her bare foot until her eyes flutter open.

“Amy wants us to come to a block party,” I lie. “You could get away from Aunt Becky.”

She sits up and yawns before standing. “You don’t have to ask me twice. I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.” She bounds up the stairs, full of energy for someone who was just sleeping.

I’m doing the right thing.