“Bullshit,” I repeat. “You’re crazy about her. It doesn’t matter if you say the words or not. I know you care about her more than you’re used to caring.” It was his idea for the three of us to be exclusive to each other.

“Whatever.” That means he’s done talking about this. He doesn’t like confrontations. Never has. His family life is fucked up, so avoiding arguments is his MO. And I don’t want to fight.

When we pull into the driveway, my sister bounds out of the house and runs to greet us. Jenna is like champagne bubbles. I feel like shit for keeping my relationship with her best friend a secret.

“Is Penelope with you?” she asks, dipping her head to look in the car like maybe we closed her in there.

“No. We dropped her off first.”

Her face falls. “Damn. She’s coming to spend the night with me on Wednesday though. It will be just like old times.” I catch the glance Shane throws me. It will be nice to have her under the same roof again, but damn, that’s going to be hard too.

We go inside the house to put our stuff in my room. I’m amazed at how nothing in the house changes. Each time I come home for a break, I feel different than the guy who left, but the house is like a snapshot that is always the same.

We throw our bags on the twin beds in my room. The plaid bedspreads match the plaid curtains. My trophies from Tee-ball through senior year line the shelves. My letterman jacket hangs on the chair. Did my mom bring that out of my closet? I know I didn’t put it there. She’s obviously dusted the shelves too.

I pick it up and take it back to my closet.

“Your sister is going to make a pass at me.”

I pause, the hanger in my hand. “What did you just say?”

“Your sister. She had a look in her eye before we came upstairs.” He throws his arms out, palms up. “What? You don’t think I’m sexy?”

“My sister is—”

“Not on my list. I’m just telling you. I’ll let her down as easy as I can.”

I roll my eyes. This is getting to be very complicated.

In an alternate universe, setting him up with my sister would have been something I would have hated at first, but probably really liked later. I mean, if they’d have worked out, he’d always be in my family. “If we weren’t with Penelope, it would be weird, but I’d be okay with my sister making a pass at you. Eventually.”

“But we are with Penelope. For now. Exclusive so we don’t have to wear rubbers.”

Yeah, sure, Shane. That’s why we’re exclusive.