Page 21

AIDEN

The knock at the door comes earlier than expected. I’m in the kitchen, gripping my second cup of coffee like it’s the only thing keeping me sane. Will and the guys are still half-asleep in the living room, draped across the couches, with last night’s game footage on the TV. I glance at the clock. Too early. My stomach tightens.

Will groans from the couch. “If it’s another freshman, I swear to God—”

But I already know it’s not. I set my mug down and rub the back of my neck before heading to the door. The second I open it a tiny blur launches at me.

“Aidy!”

I catch her effortlessly, lifting her up before she can knock me over. Her laugh is soft but bright, and I feel something in my chest unwind. “Hey, princess,”

I murmur. “Miss me?”

“Duh! It’s been forever!” I smile.

“It’s been two weeks, Soph.”

Sophia grins, her arms still locked around my neck. She’s lighter than she should be. Always too light.

Behind her, Aunt Maria steps into the doorway, shaking her head. “Are you going to bring us inside, or should we just live in the hallway?”

I roll my eyes but step back, letting them in. Kat’s standing near the kitchen, watching the scene unfold like she’s stepped into an alternate universe. Her gaze lands on Sophia’s headscarf, and her expression shifts—like she’s piecing something together.

“Oh!”

Maria’s eyes light up when she spots Kat. “You must be Katerina.”

Kat blinks, surprised my aunt knows her name. “Uh. Yeah?”

Maria grins at her, wrapping her into a hug. “Oh, we’ve heard about you.”

I feel every muscle in my body tighten.

“Nope,”

I say quickly. “We’re not doing this. ”Maria ignores me, stepping towards Kat like she’s about to share my entire life story.

“It’s so nice to finally meet the girl my nephew can’t stop talking about.”

I groan. “Maria.”

Sophia gasps dramatically, twisting in my arms to stare at me.

“She doesn’t know you talk about her?”

Kat crosses her arms, her lips twitching. “Aw, Aidy. You talk about me?”

I glare at her. “More like complain.”

“Oh, sure you do.”

Sophia giggles. “I like her Aidy. She looks like a princess!”

Maria pats my shoulder, smirking. “You’re in trouble, Aidy.”

I sigh, resigned to my fate.

Will steps out of the living room, and Sophia lights up. “Willy!”

She wriggles out of my arms and sprints toward him, jumping into his arms. I watch them, something heavy settling in my chest. I know how much she loves Will, and I understand why. He reminds her of Dad. And Dad’s not here. He hasn’t been for a while. He treats Sophia like a disease; he only wants someone to take over his business. So Maria stepped in, took over, and made sure Sophia always had a place to call home.

Sophia clings to Kat for the rest of the day. I don’t know how it happens, but one second, Kat awkwardly tolerates it first,and the next minute, she’s completely taken in by my sister. Sophia bombards her with questions about skating, insists on seeing old videos, and eventually convinces Kat to spin her around the living room floor. Sophia shrieks with laughter as Kat twirls her. “Again!”

Kat chuckles. “You’re a little demanding, huh?”

Maria sips her tea, watching with an amused expression. “She doesn’t warm up to people this fast, you know.”

Kat glances down at Sophia, who’s now sitting in her lap, playing with the sleeve of her hoodie.

“Really?”

Maria nods. “Trust doesn’t come easy for her.”

I stay silent on the couch, arms crossed, just watching. Kat doesn’t know the half of it. Later, after dinner, Maria is in the kitchen chatting with Will, and Sophia is curled up in my lap, fighting sleep.

Kat sits across from us, her expression more serious than usual. She hesitates before speaking, her voice quiet.

“She’s sick, isn’t she?”

I tense. The question shouldn’t catch me off guard, but it does. I exhale, running a hand over Sophia’s back. “Yeah.”

Kat watches me before speaking again.

“How bad?”

I don’t answer right away. I don’t want to say it out loud again. But eventually, I force the words out. “She’s fighting it for the second time.”

Kat stills. “Leukemia,”

I say. “First diagnosed when at four years old. She went into remission, but it came back last year. She’s been in and out of treatments ever since.”

Kat glances at Sophia, then back at me. She looks like she’s searching for the right thing to say, but what can you say to that?

“Will and I…”

My throat tightens. “We’re both matches for her. But the doctors still aren’t sure if the transplant will work. We’re just… waiting. Hoping.”

Kat nods slowly, eyes softening.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

I meet her gaze. “Just—don’t treat her like she’s made of glass, okay? She hates that.”

Kat tilts her head, considering. Then she nods. “I won’t.”

I study her for a long moment, searching for any hint of pity, but there’s none.

For once, I don’t feel like making a snarky remark.

And for once, neither does she.