And she barges in before I can even answer.

Olivia closes the door behind her. She’s wearing Mom’s oversized black hoodie that says “New York City.” We were supposed to take a family trip to New York the year Mom got diagnosed, but that news ended any chance of a vacation. Dad ordered the sweatshirt online, and we all signed our names on the card. Since Mom died, Livvy’s been wearing it around the house, even though it’s big enough for another small person to fit inside it with her.

“Time to eat?” I ask.

“No. Dad said he might order sandwiches from Ray’s later, but right now he’s busy grading. As usual.” She rolls her eyes. “I’m thinking I might go vegan. Do you know the way they treat chickens?”

“I’m familiar with it.”

“I’m sure Ray doesn’t serve anything organic.”

“He probably isn’t humane enough to pay his employees minimum wage.”

“No doubt.”

She sits on the edge of my bed and twirls the hoodie’s drawstring. She has something to say, but it’s not like Olivia to be coy. Or cautious.

“Was today your last day of detention?” I ask.

“Yeah. Whitley told me if I hit anybody else, I’ll get suspended. I told him I’d hit anybody who defamed my family. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.”

“If you hadn’t, then you wouldn’t be you.”

“True that.” She continues playing with the string. “How’s the homework going?”

“Is that what you came in here to ask? I can tell you want something. Why are you acting so…I don’t know…reluctant to spill it?”

She sighs. It’s beyond theatrical. “Okay, fine. I talked to Dad, and he told me what the police said. About Chloe maybe being pregnant. I guess he’s worried about you.”

“So he sent you to check up on me?”

“Pretty much. You know he can’t talk about sex stuff.”

Dad’s trip down memory lane at the kitchen table comes back to me. Details of his adolescent sex life coming out with Detective Haley looking on. Maybe Dad is much more complex than any of us know.

“Chloe never mentioned anything like that to you, did she?” I ask.

Olivia scrunches her face. “Ewww. I never wanted to hear about you and her…you know.” Her hands flutter in the air.

“I thought you were so liberated.”

“Not about my brother’s sex life,” she says. “I mean, I figured you guys were doing it. After all, you were together over six months and totally in love. I also figured you two would be completely cautious about birth control and stuff, like you’d be all wrapped in condoms from head to toe. Ewww. Now I just pictured that.”

“Thanks.”

“Soooo…it’s not possible?”

“I don’t know, Livvy.”