it. I can feel the layers building around him after catching him in such a weird, vulnerable moment. He’s turned back to the computer, and the silence has filled the space.
“Sorry if I was short with you earlier. Are you annoyed with me about what happened with Pierce today?”
He sighs, and begins to speak. “I’m not annoyed with you. I’m a bit peeved at Pierce for making a move on you, but it’s my own fault. We’ve been planning this, you and I, for a year. I should have asked for a different audition date, or something. But he told me he could do it, and you seem to really like him. I guess I’m just being …”
“Overprotective?” I ask. The Shane of my trip last year was so much less serious, more carefree. Until the end, at least. “Is this because of what happened last year? Like, that sucked, obviously, but I’m here now.”
The silence between us expands, and I worry I’ve said too much. Guilt gnaws at me, and I get the very real urge to flee.
“You were so good at pushing us out. I thought you got grounded; then I was worried maybe something worse might have happened. It was just like what you did to me after your coming-out catastrophe. Mate, you panic when I don’t respond to your email within a day, even when I’m, like, working. Could you imagine if I dropped off the face of the earth after our families got in a huge fight?”
A pause. I don’t really know how to respond to that.
“Yeah, I would be majorly freaked,” I say, taking a seat on his bed. My body faces the door, and I realize even now I’m looking for an escape. “I didn’t want to make you worry. But it was so bad.”
“I know, I know.” He rolls his chair over to me and wraps me up in a hug. “It’s just, you’re basically the only family I have. At least, the only family I have born in this generation.”
“I was all in my head, but you and Aunt Leah were there for me. I don’t have much of an excuse, but I am glad you two clawed your way back into my life.”
“We always will.” He smirks. “But truly, it’s fine. I’m being cautious for no reason. Pierce is just a bit of a heartbreaker. And you know I’ll support you through anything, but I need you to physically stay here in order for me to do that. I’m not going to lose my cousin again.”
“Until you become that famous horn player from the Les Mis orchestra and get too good for me,” I say, deadpan.
“Precisely.” He sticks out his chest and spins gracefully away on his rolling chair. “I’m already starting to forget who you are.”
A key clicks into place in the front door, interrupting the moment. I stand and walk to the doorway, so I have a direct line of sight when Aunt Leah comes in. She sees me and drops her groceries on the table hastily in a near sprint to welcome me with open arms. Literally.
I’m about a foot taller than her, but I’m still squeezed into her embrace so tightly I’m not sure I could get out if I tried.
“How was the flight? How have you been? You’re a secondary—I mean, high school graduate now. Your mum showed me all the pictures.” There’s a pause as the weight of their strained relationship barrels into the conversation. “Well, I saw it on your dad’s Facebook.”
“That counts,” I say to lighten the mood. “Flight was as good as it could have been. I’ve been fine, doing better now that I’m here. Shane’s friend Pierce picked me up and took me to see Parliament and Big Ben, and now I never have to be a tourist again.”
“Pierce? Pierce Reid?” She looks to Shane, who’s just met us in the kitchen. “Why weren’t you there?”
He blushes. “About ten minutes after you left this morning, I got a call from, uh, the Les Mis orchestra casting director. She liked my portfolio, I suppose.”
“Shane? Did you have an audition?”
Her hands come up to cover her gaped mouth. He offers a shy grin in response.
“So that’s why you’re wearing your nice M&S shirt. I thought you were just trying to make a good impression with Marty.” She shakes her head. “But more important, oh my god! Congrats, honey. Well done.”
She nearly barrels him over with a hug, but I see his awkward