Page 55 of Hoax and Kisses
Three dots in a bubble dance on the screen before her message appears.
Zoey
You don’t owe me anything. We have a business deal and that’s all. Though I would have appreciated a little help putting all the stuff back in your truck.
“Fuck.” I didn’t even think about the piles of blankets and the basket I prepared.
Daph gives me a side-eye.
“Sorry.”
“Five dollars in the swear jar. And you’re distracting me. Are you watching the movie or not?”
“Yes, yes, sorry,” I say. “Give me a minute to wrap up something on my phone and then I’ll put it away.”
Matt
Tell me how I can make it up to you. I feel awful. You said nobody had ever made a romantic gesture, and now I made things ten times worse.
This time, she responds instantly.
Zoey
Don’t waste my time like that again.
Yeah, she’s furious. And honestly? If I were in her shoes, I’d be livid too. I scrub my beard, thinking.
I owe her an explanation, but without dragging Daphne into it, that’ll be tricky.
My fingers hover above the keyboard. I type out a sentence. Delete. Start again. Delete.
With a sharp exhale, I drag a hand down my face and stare up at the ceiling. Everything I’ve been juggling seems like it’s about to fall to the ground. I’m out of my depth—with my sister, with Zoey.
With all of it.
Finally, I type. And hit send.
Matt
I can’t guarantee that. My parents are out of town this month, and I’m taking care of my sister while they’re away. She wasn’t supposed to come tonight, but she did.
Can I stop by tomorrow morning and bring you breakfast? I want a chance to apologize in person.
Please?
My pulse climbs, thick and tight in my throat, as I wait for her reply. I typed the wordautisticnext tosisterhalf a dozen times but deleted every one of them.
I glance at Daphne, half expecting her to hit me with another snarky comment, but she’s too into the movie to bother with me, absorbed in a way only she can achieve.
The tightness in my chest loosens at the sight. Never again will I expose her to someone who doesn’t accept her for who she is. Zoey’s only passing through our lives. Daphne doesn’t need to know her.
But now you’re hiding her.
I close my eyes, rubbing my temples.
I’m nothidingher. I’m shielding her until I’m sure she won’t be made to feel less than she is.
I’ll never be ashamed of Daphne. She’s perfect the way she is. And I’m proud of her and how far she’s come, even if the world doesn’t always make it easy for her.
