“Because you’re a goof-off. You do nothing. Life is a joke to you. You just sail through it. All you think about is yourself and what you need to do to make people look at you. I work hard. Every day. And I try my best and I push myself in everything I do so they’ll notice me and do you know who still gets all the attention? Who everybody talks about? Who everyone is still more proud of and happier with and can’t forget about? Who everybody loves the most? You, Eric.” I stopped and swallowed hard. “I mean, Jackson. You . . .”

He had gone silent. I swiped at the tears that were trailing down my face, mad that I hadn’t been able to hold them back for a few more minutes. Then I turned and fled. I didn’t make it far before I couldn’t see through the blurriness. Worried I was going to run into a wall, I turned a corner and pressed my back against the building. If I had thought now was the time Jackson would grow up and leave me alone, I was mistaken.

He rounded the corner a few seconds after me.

“Please don’t,” I said.

For once he looked serious, somber. “I promise I’ll leave if you want me to, but is there anything I can do? Do you want me to go get Amelia? Or call your parents?”

I shook my head no.

“Could you use someone to cry on? I think I’m good at that. I wore an extra absorbent sweater today.” He opened his arms like he expected me to melt into them. When I didn’t, he said, “How about a different offer, then?” He pulled his car keys out of his pocket. “The bell is about to ring and these halls are going to fill with people. My car, you remember it, the classic, is a great place to cry. I know it doesn’t have music, but it does have doors that can close people out. Even me if you want. Or I can drive you to a completely new location. I won’t even talk.”

My tears started anew. Why was he choosing now to be thoughtful? I had just yelled mean, awful things at him, and he stood there offering me salvation. I nodded.

“Yes?”

“Please.”