I sigh deeply. He’s not even trying. This is so ridiculous. On a normal evening at six, my brothers definitely aren’t having heart-to-heart chats with Mom, but they’re acting like I stole away the only person either of them has ever loved. In fact, there’s a decent chance that at this hour at home, Jason would be playing Legends of the Empire, like I just offered to.

In fact, it probably is what he’s doing.

“I’ve been gone for a week, Jase; I’m not off to sea. Come on. Just half an hour. I could really use it,” I try.

Definitely the wrong way to go. “Oh, well, if you need something, then I guess everyone has to drop everything,” he snaps.

Some variation on that remark has been his response to pretty much everything I’ve said since my parents told the twins we were moving, so it barely even stings at this point. Barely.

Fine. I’ll just take a deep breath and sidestep that. “Where’s Jer?”

“‘Studying’ at some girl’s house.” At least he engages long enough to make those obnoxious finger quotes.

Some girl’s house?? Jesus, even my little brother has more game with girls than I do. God, this is sad. But okay, not the point.

“You’ve gotta be bored. Come on.” I can’t believe I’m begging to play a game I don’t even like that much, especially when my arm feels like it’s gonna fall off, but I need something to go right today. Something to feel fixed. If we were home—together—I’d drag him outside to throw a ball around the yard, but right now this is the best I can do.

“Not bored enough to play with you because you feel bad for leaving and don’t want me to be mad at you,” Jason says sourly. “Thanks, but no thanks on the pity game.”

“Jase! It’s not a pity game!” God, I wanna tell him how much it would mean to me to hang out with someone who actually loves me, but I know he’ll use it against me if I tell him how cruel the team is being. “I wanna play Legends with you. You think that’s changed just because I moved?”

“I think everything’s changed because you moved.” His voice is flat and he gives me no chance to respond before he cuts off the connection.

As if on cue, a new bruise on my shin starts to throb, and I take it as my sign to go grab an ice pack and see if my mom wants to get subs from Publix for dinner.

I am grateful I am grateful I am so goddamn grateful.