Page 11 of Wham Line

“You’re not going anywhere,” I said.And then genius struck.“You’re grounded.”

Keme gaped at me.

Millie’s jawdropped.

“That’s right,” I said, warming up to the idea.“You’re grounded, buster.You’re not going anywhere.”

For several seconds, the only sound was water dripping off three very wet people.

“You can’t ground me!”

“You’d better believe I can,” I said.“I’m your—whatever I am.Brother-dad, I guess?And kind of a foster parent.Wait, is den mother still a thing?”I was losing ground, so I rallied with “And Indira’s not around right now.So, it’s my call.And I say you’re grounded, so no leaving the house.”

I waited for the shouting.I waited for the argument.I braced myself against the all-too-real possibility of Keme simply tackling me and then escaping.

But one second passed.And then another.And then tears welled in his eyes.

“Keme,” I said.“Come here.”

He dashed at the tears and tried to glare at me.

“It’s going to be okay—”

He gave a furious shake of his head.

“Yes,” I said.“It is.Come here.”

It took several more seconds before he slunk over to me: eyes downcast, shoulders stiff, hands balled into fists at his side.

I hugged him.“We’re all going to be okay.”

He shivered and shook his head again.

I rubbed his back.

It felt like a long time before, his voice cracking, he said, “She’s gone.”

Then he started to cry.Keme wasn’t really a crier, although the last few months had certainly put that hypothesis to the test.Even now, it wasn’t outright sobs—more like these violent, intermittent shakes as he fought desperately to hold himself together and occasionally lost.I rubbed his back some more until the worst of it was over.

“Shower,” I told him.“Dry clothes.Get some rest.”

He sniffled.He glared.He dragged himself around the room with long, sulking, melodramatic pauses as he gathered what he needed.Then he touched Millie’s hand, looked at her silently until she rubbed his arm, and gave me one final, murderous stare before retreating into the bathroom.

Honestly, it was adorable.He was like a little wolf cub after a mama wolf licked his fur into a mohawk.(Or something like that.)

After the door closed behind him, I said, “Are you staying over tonight?”

It wasn’t something we talked about; they were both adults.Millie blushed but only slightly.“He’s pretty upset.”

“I know he’s upset.That’s why I want you to make sure he doesn’t leave tonight.”

Millie nodded.

“I’m serious.”

“I won’t let him leave.”

“Good.Do you need anything?”