“Okay. I’m just going to tear the Band-Aid off. The guy who robbed you? Well, unfortunately he’s my brother. His name is Jack. And yes, I knew it was him from the moment you gave your description to the cops. I didn’t say anything to you or the cops because, well, he’s my brother. And I was trying to protect his dumb ass. Not only because I love him and don’t want him to go to jail, but because—”

“Your dad is on his health insurance.”

“I . . . yes. Wow, you have really been paying attention to everything I’ve told you, huh?”

“Everything.”

“Okay . . . well. I had no idea what to do. Especially after you and I started talking on the phone and I realized just how much that night was screwing with you. All I wanted was to make you feel better. To get you some closure. To help you feel safe and secure. But I had no idea how to do that without telling you the truth. And . . . selfishly . . . well, I knew that as soon as you knew who my brother was that you wouldn’t—we couldn’t—that everything would just end. And it’s been a really hard year for me. Pops. Moving. Leaving my old job. Starting up here. My jerk brother. Pops. And talking to you made me happier than I’d been in such a long time. I just wanted it to last . . . a little longer. Like I said, it was selfish. I should never have let things go this far. Especially because I knew it was doomed from the beginning.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Which part?”

“The doomed thing. Your brother’s actions . . . why do you assume I’d hold you responsible for them?”

“I don’t mean that, exactly. I just mean, are you going to come over for Thanksgiving dinner and ask Jack to pass the mashed potatoes after he broke into your house and held a gun to your face and traumatized you?”

“You . . . were thinking about that already? Having me over to spend time with your family?”

“No! I mean . . . yes. But not like that!”

“I . . . don’t think I’ve ever heard you this flustered before. If it wasn’t like that then what was it like?”

“When you have a crush on someone you just kind of start to think about the future a little, you know? And all I’m saying is that I really didn’t think we could have a future together because of what Jack did. And because I covered for him.”

“. . .”

“Eliot? Are you still there?”

“I’m here. I just . . . wow. This is a lot.”

“I know. I know. And I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for everything.”

“Your brother . . . does he do this a lot?”