Until the World Stops - L.A. Witt Page 0,37

get someone else sick.”

He rolled his eyes. “Let me guess—they think this is all fake?”

“I don’t know about that. Mostly they just can’t comprehend that any crisis is actually real enough that it’ll affect them.” I leaned back against the couch. “I practically have to breathe into a paper bag during fire season.”

“Ugh. Fuck. I remember that from last year.”

We exchanged glances, both of us scowling. My parents lived near the Bay Area and my sister’s family was in Sonoma County. I’d barely slept last summer until wildfire season was well and truly over because they were all confident that they didn’t need to evacuate. They’d gotten lucky—the Kincade fire had made it within a mile of my sister’s property. This year, it would be a pandemic and fire season at the same time. I wondered if Casey and I had enough room in our budget for some Xanax. Or some weed. Or both.

I sighed again. “Ugh. I just wish they’d take things seriously, you know? My family is… I mean, don’t get me wrong. I love them. But sometimes they just stress me out.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” Casey rested a hand on Tilly to steady her as he leaned forward to grab his soda off the coffee table. Settling back against the cushion, drink in hand, he asked, “Did they at least let you off the hook about visiting?”

“Eh. Sort of. They get that you can’t go, but they’re probably still going to hammer me.”

Casey’s brow pinched. “Are you going to go?” He actually sounded worried.

“No, definitely not.”

“Good,” he murmured into his glass, and took a drink. I refused to let myself read anything into that. Of course he didn’t want me traveling—I’d come home at some point, and I’d probably get him sick. Didn’t mean he was actually worried about me. He just didn’t want to get the virus. Right?

Okay, I didn’t need to let myself follow that train of thought, so I pushed it away. I also closed my laptop since I was way too distracted after that phone call to make any headway on my homework. “So what about your family? How are they handling all this?”

Casey exhaled. “Fortunately, they’re taking it seriously. My dad is working from home, but my mom’s essential, so she’s still working until someone tells her otherwise.”

“What about Sean?”

“Furloughed.”

“Aw, damn.” I grimaced. “Good thing he doesn’t have to worry about a place to live.”

Casey nodded. “Yeah. I think it’s good for my parents, too. My mom is worried as hell about him right now because of his asthma, so having him home where she and Dad can keep an eye on him…”

“Oh yeah, I bet.”

“At least they’re taking it seriously, though. Your folks?” He grimaced, shaking his head.

“Tell me about it.” I wiped my hand over my face. “It’s frustrating to be so far away from them, because there’s nothing I can do to make sure they’re being careful. But even if I was there, I don’t think there’s much I could do.” I rubbed my eyes. “I still can’t believe my sister would take her boys to Disneyland if it were still open.”

Casey exhaled. “Yeah, that’s… Wow. I don’t get that at all.”

“And I’ll bet you anything that if the park reopens, they’ll find a way to go whether it’s safe or not.” I pressed my elbow into the armrest and kneaded my neck. “And I’m worried as hell one of my nephews will get sick as a result. Hell, I’m worried they’ll get sick in a place like that even when there isn’t a raging pandemic in progress.”

“Hmm, yeah. With as sick as they both get every year…” He shook his head.

“Right?”

“And like, why would you take your kids there if there’s such a huge chance of them getting sick and having their whole trip ruined? Going places like that is supposed to be fun.” Casey gestured with his glass. “Like I get that it’s disappointing when something happens and a kid can’t go. But sometimes… I mean, I knew a kid in elementary school who broke his leg two weeks before his family was supposed to go to Disneyland, and his parents figured he’d been through enough already, so he shouldn’t miss out on the vacation too.”

I grimaced. “Why do I feel like they all regretted that decision?”

Sighing, Casey nodded. “He was miserable the entire time. The whole family was. His dad eventually stayed at the hotel with him while his mom took the other kids to