He jerked, then relaxed. “Sorry. I was thinking.”

“About?”

Michael bit his lip. “Nothing.”

Dani tilted her head, studying him. “You don’t have to tell me, but know that you can, okay?”

He nodded, continuing to bite his lip and then his hands were moving fast and intensely. “Coach said that you started the paperwork to keep us.”

Dani nodded. “He’s right. Is that okay?”

Michael let out a shaky breath. “Yeah. I know I wasn’t supposed to get Joshua’s hopes up, but he started crying when you and Coach left. I told him that you were trying to make it so we could live with you permanently. I’m sorry, but I didn’t know what else to say to make him stop crying. He was afraid we’d get separated.”

Dani understood Michael’s need to soothe his brother, but if it didn’t work out, the little boy would be crushed. Then her spine straightened. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll be crushed. So I’m going to make it work out. She gave Michael an encouraging smile. “It was okay to tell him. I don’t want him to be afraid, ever.”

“But what if the state says no? What if they make us leave?”

There was something more to Michael’s fear, something she was missing. “Why are you afraid it won’t work out?”

His eyes darted around, looking everywhere but at her. “I saw the medication in the bathroom. Your medication. I’m sorry. I wasn’t snooping, honest.”

Ah. “You saw my antiretroviral drugs.” She was impressed that he’d known what they were for. Michael was going to keep her on her toes. “I’m HIV positive, but my viral loads are undetectable. Do you know what that means?”

“It means you can’t give it to anyone. I wasn’t afraid of that.” He swallowed hard. “I . . . I asked Greg about it. On Skype. Agent Troy said it was okay. He let me use his laptop and I didn’t touch anything on it, I swear.”

“It’s okay, Michael. I’m not upset and I’m sure Agent Troy knew you’d be respectful with his computer. I’m glad you asked Greg.”

“Greg said you’d say that. He told me about transmission and stuff. I was freaked out,” he admitted. “A little.”

“Understandable. I was freaked out, too, at the beginning.”

“He said your boyfriend gave it to you.”

Dani nodded again. “That’s true.”

He frowned, his cheeks growing red. “Coach knows? Greg said he did.”

Dani smiled. “He knows. He’s okay with it.” More than okay, which still blew her mind.

Michael crossed his arms over his chest, then released the hold he had on himself to sign. “What if the state finds out? They won’t let you keep us.”