Page 9 of Kiss Collector

I don’t like family talks. They only happen when something bad is going on. Last year it was Dad losing his job.

The room is so quiet I can hear the clock ticking, filling the room with an echoing dread.

Mom and Dad both set down their utensils and look at each other. He gives her a nod and I want to screamNo! Don’t say it!Whatever it is, I don’t want to hear it. I grip the edges of my seat and hold my breath.

“Your dad and I love you both so much.” She looks back and forth between Zebby and me, her eyes misting. “And I promise you it’s not your fault—”

“That’s right,” Dad says. “It’s about your mom and me.”

No. No. No.I’m going to be sick.

Mom pauses, then opens her mouth in what seems like slow motion. “We’re separating.”

The world tilts as I stare at my food, which now looks revolting.

“We can’t afford to keep this house when your dad moves out, so the three of us will be getting an apartment.” My head snaps up, my heart racing, frantic.

“What?” Zeb asks. “We’re moving?”

Zeb and I have lived in this town house our whole lives!

Mom swallows and nods. “I got us a two-bedroom apartment in Southern Ridge, and Dad will be living outside oftown with a roommate. You two will have to share a room, but it’s only temporary until—”

Oh my God! She’s serious! I stand so fast my chair makes a horrible screech on the linoleum.“Why?!”

Mom drops her head, but her shoulders are tense.

“We’ll still get to see each other,” Dad promises. He reaches for my hand and I yank my arm away, making him frown.

“Things change, honey.” Mom’s voice cracks. She sounds so defeated.

“No crap. Really? Things change? Uh, yeah! That’s life! And peopleadjust.”

“It’s not that simple.” Dad is using his hard, paternal voice now, and it only makes me angrier.

“I can’t believe you guys are just giving up!” I yell. “After, like, nineteen years? Just because we’re going through one rough time?”

Mom closes her eyes and presses her fingertips to her lips. Dad stares off, his face plastered with something like regret or guilt.

When I look down at Zebby, his face is streaked with tears. I cover my mouth against a giant sob. Our family is splitting. Cracking. Breaking. Is nothing in this world sacred?

I have to talk through tears now. “You took vows. You’re supposed to be together forever, for better or worse.”

Visions of our summer road trips to the beach flash through my mind. So much laughter. So much love. How does that change? How did this happen? Then my mind turns to Wylie in that room with another girl. Oh, God, what if... ?

“Is one of you cheating?” My voice is filled with uglyaccusation. I know I shouldn’t ask. I’m crossing a major line, but I don’t care.

Mom’s wet eyes bug. “Honey! We...”

She looks at Dad, desperate, until he finally speaks, his face rigid. “The details are nobody’s business but ours. All you need to know is that we fell out of love, Xanderia. And we couldn’t find our way back.”

How convenient. No map for that.

“We need to start packing,” Mom whispers. “We move out on Saturday.”

“Saturday?”My voice breaks as the room feels off kilter. Four days from now? I heave for air as their words sink in. This is happening, and I can’t stop it. “This is wrong! You guys suck!”

Mom is crying now and Dad puts his elbows on the table, rubbing his face. I run from the dining room, down the stairs to my room in the basement, and slam my bedroom door as hard as I can. Then I curl into a ball on my bed.