Nate has invited me to come study with him tonight at the coffeehouse Ben works at—more accurately, he has ordered me. He thinks I worry too much about Nah and that I need to get out of the house. He has no idea. Ben has the closing shift and is promising free coffee and whatever we want from the pastry case. Sugar and caffeine are excellent motivation for crossing the Charles River.

If I am being completely forthright, Ben is excellent motivation. It’s been three weeks since that night in the living room, and I haven’t seen him since. The timing isn’t right. But I want to. See him. And my resolve to stay completely focused is wavering.

I press my ear to the door. It is silent.

“Come on, Nah,” I say. “How can you say no to brownies? They’re your favorite!”

I know what would get her to open this door. All I have to do is tell her the truth about Micah.

I have never missed my mom as much as I do right now.

“Nah, please. Talk to me.”

There’s a thud, then shuffling, the lock clicks, and the door opens. My sister stands before me, a wraith.

I try my best to smile. “Hi. Did you hear anything I—”

“I’m tired, Mae. Okay? I just want to be alone.”

Micah is cheating on you.

“Oh—okay.” I slide my foot past the doorway, in case she tries to shut me out again. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, though.”

“I do.”

Hannah. Our rose. She needs Mom’s soft voice—grow, grow, grow. But if you’re anyone other than Mom and you say grow, she’ll wither, just to defy you. Stubborn blood, that’s what Yia-yia used to say. Karalis blood. Can’t push her. You do, she’ll go the opposite way.

I need a Hannah whisperer.

“What if … I just hang out with you instead? We don’t have to talk. Or go anywhere. I can do my homework—”

“We have to get used to it, Mae.”

“Used to what?”

“Being apart. You’re leaving at the end of June. Plebe Summer. Annapolis. Then the military. Five years, right? That’s what you give in exchange for school?”

“Yes.” I overcame my inertia and rescheduled the interview; it’s in two weeks. My study session with Nate tonight is to prep for it. “But I’ll visit—”

“And then you’ll go to Florida or Houston or Russia or wherever NASA sends you. And then the moon. Or whatever.” She shrugs. “Let’s face it, Mae: Our family—it’s done.”

I stare at her. “What?”

My vision turns spotty, like the room has suddenly been infested with gnats.

Our family—it’s done.

“Besides, I’m going to LA soon. Micah and I are getting a place, you know?”