“Look, I know something happened between you two and I know how it blew up with Dad. And that’s all I know. You know Dad is a fucking bald-faced liar, so don’t let him get in your head. Once he’s in, he won’t get out.” He looked me straight in the eyes. Daring me to be honest.

That was a dare I wouldn’t take.

“So unless there’s more to it, or Martin did something to you that I don’t know about, I don’t see the problem with me crashing with him. He’s the only one outside of Mendoza who just chills at home and doesn’t bring girls around every night. He doesn’t get in trouble. He’s being really good to me, Kare.”

I wanted to throw up. I was relieved and devastated. It was a wretched combination.

“I’m not saying not to be friends with him.” I let out a breath of frustration. “I just . . .” I couldn’t think of a valid reason to tell Austin not to stay with Kael unless I wanted to tell him how Kael made me feel.

“If you don’t want me to, say it. Just know that I can’t stay at Dad’s anymore, Kare. I can’t do it.”

I nodded. I understood needing to get away from our dad. Austin should stay at Kael’s house, Martin’s house.

“Dad’s calling me again.” Austin sighed, changing the subject, looking at his phone. “He’s so suffocating.”

“Are you going to answer?”

“No.”

A car drove by and a little boy in the backseat waved at us. Austin waved back, even smiling for the child.

“I got a job, too,” Austin told me a minute or so later. The sun was going down and the sky was changing colors around us.

“Really?” I pepped up for him. “That’s great news,” I meant it. He hadn’t had a job since he got fired from Kmart for calling out too much. I wasn’t sure what job could possibly hold my brother, but I was happy he had one.

“Where is it?”

He hesitated. “It’s with Martin. He’s flipping that duplex he lives in, you know? He’s really fucking smart, man. He’s paying me and Lawson to help him. I’m going to get more hours in than everyone else, since they all have to work during the week. It’s just like tearing up carpet, shit like that. And, Kare—I got myself honest work without having to join the Army, no breaking our treaty,” he said with a teasing smile.