Page 130 of What Boys Learn

“Your sister is very, very sorry.”

“Not enough.”

“She should have paid more attention to your warnings. It was a misunderstanding and a mistake.”

“And?”

“And it will not happen again.”

Ewan nodded. “See? I believe you, Robert. Becauseyouunderstand the importance of family. How’s your mom doing, by the way?”

“Stella’s great. My brothers are great. Back to the point. Maybe there’s a specific place you’ve forgotten about. A getaway that’s been mentioned? A cabin? Maybe farther afield than what we’re assuming?”

Ewan scoffed. “Our mutual friend is not a cabin kind of guy.”

Three minutes left on the screen timer.

“Some northern place?” Robert guessed.

“Like a hunting cabin? I don’t think he’d tolerate a cabin. Or even a motel.” Ewan started laughing. “Though I heard that one of his pretty boys made the mistake of meeting a girl in one. Why do people go to motels? Use a van. Use a car. Enjoy yourself out under the starry skies. That’s what I miss. The open road.”

We waited silently for his daydream to end.

“I’m impressed you’re doing all this for my sister,” Ewan said after a moment. “I knew you broke up. I didn’t know you were back together. Any wedding bells ringing?”

“Let’s stay on topic.”

“Here’sa topic,” Ewan said, leaning into the screen, looking eager again. “Make sure you know the person you’re marrying. Don’t fall for any innocence act. Ask questions. Examine the product.”

Robert said, “I already know that your friend—your visitor—has been trying to confuse Abby about what happened the night of the car accident. I’m wise to it. So don’t bother.”

Ewan laughed. “I’m sure she didn’t like being reminded I was going to pimp her out.”

Robert’s eyes flashed. “So that wasn’t a joke.”

Ewan folded his hands across his belly, looking pleased with himself. “I couldn’t afford that car without a discount! Come on, man!”

I couldn’t take my eyes off that face. The one I looked up to.

“What’s the big deal? It wouldn’t have taken more than five minutes. And I needed a car. A person can’t do anything without a car. What the fuck’s a girl for, anyway?”

I could see Robert’s chest moving in and out. Even though I couldn’t hear him breathing, he was doing what he had to do. Big inhale. Big exhale. Don’t get riled up.

“I’m going to warn you, Robert.Know the product. Abby isn’t who you think she is.”

Thirty seconds left on the screen timer.

I couldn’t take it anymore. Couldn’t spend even half a minute, never mind a lifetime, being too afraid to look him in the eye. I shifted over so that I was on the screen.

“Hi.” I felt thirteen years old again, and I hated him for it.

“Well hello there,” he said, with what sounded like tenderness. “Dogface.”

The name froze me.

He leaned forward. “You’re not about to cry, are you?”

I clenched my hands into fists, nails digging into my palms.