anything.”
“Don’t you have another mold?” Valerio asked.
“No,” I shook my head. “I mean, yes, I could make one. I still have the master, sculpted from clay. But I’d have to make a positive cast in wax, then clean it all up. Sand it down. Prep it for investment casting…”
“So?”
I was on a roll and didn’t want to be stopped. “I’d need to sprue out a new flask,” I went on. “Put it through the vacuum chamber…”
“Maybe we could help you,” offered Kade. “If you taught us—”
“Trim it up. Throw it in the kiln. Do another burn-out…”
I curled into a ball, sinking my head into my knees. It was just so much work.
“And of course I’d need all new material. I wouldn’t have enough aluminum bronze to do a solid sculpture. Or the money necessary to buy more.”
The guys were silent now, looking at each other. It was a tough situation for them. They didn’t know what to do. What to say.
“Look, I’m sorry,” I said, doing my best to snap out of it. “It’s finally Christmas, and this is ruining everything for everyone.”
“No it’s not,” said Valerio. He kissed my cheek tenderly. “Your problems are our problems.”
“He’s right,” Kade nodded. “But hey, chin up. Together we’re gonna think of something. Okay?”
I nodded, forcing a smile. They wiped my tears again, one from each side, and no more tears came afterward. It was amazing how much of a team they were, even within the scope of such a simple act.
“Where’s Brock?” I asked.
“Work stuff. He’ll be by later though.” Kade paused awkwardly. “So will I.”
“Why?” I asked. “It’s Christmas Eve. Where in the world are you going?”
He and Valerio exchanged glances. Eventually he shrugged.
“I wanted to see my brother. Maybe cheer him up a little, let him know the new year is coming. And along with it, new beginn—”
“Let’s all go then,” I suggested. “The three of us.”
Valerio’s face brightened. Kade still looked unsure though.
“I dunno,” he said. “It’s kinda bleak over there in his apartment. With his girlfriend moved out, the place is sparse. It’s not very… Christmassy.”
I spent the next few seconds examining his reaction. Eventually I relented.
“Alright then.”
“Sloane it’s not that,” Kade said placatingly. “It’s just… it’s well…”
“It’s okay,” I smiled. “Go. See your brother for the holiday. We’ll all hook up later on tonight.”
He paused another moment or two, making sure I was alright. Then he kissed me before bouncing off the bed and leaving the room.
Valerio yawned, then stretched a comforting arm over my shoulders. He squeezed me against him.
“I’m sorry you never got your last two pieces done,” he said softly. “I’m sure your show will be just as awesome, though. Even without—”
“Forget about me, I’m fine. Do you have the address?”
He stopped mid-sentence and blinked at my question. “What address?”
“Kade’s brother’s place.”
“Sure.”
“Good,” I said, bouncing from the bed myself. “Go get ready. We’re going out.”
I smiled, as an idea formed in my mind. The look on my face had Valerio tilting his head questioningly.
“Okay… where?”
“You’ll see.”
Thirty-Four
KADE
It was about as Christmas as we could get, sitting on the threadbare couch with my brother and I in our usual spots. Watching the same animated Christmas special we’d watched since childhood, if not for any other reason than because of ‘tradition.’
“Anyone need more popcorn?”
Danielle’s voice sounded overly cheery from the kitchen, but also a little forced. Thankfully Brandon didn’t notice.
“No thanks,” I shouted back. “We’re good!”
My brother was leaning into an open palm, staring blankly at the screen. Watching as the abominable snowman chased Rudolph and Yukon Cornelius across the frozen tundra of the North Pole, while growling menacingly the whole way.
“This was scary when we were kids, no?” I asked.
Brandon grunted. It was the best answer I’d get.
“It used to give me nightmares,” I admitted. “Even knowing he turns good at the end, it’s just so…”
“Creepy?”
He looked back at me through bloodshot eyes, trying his best to smile. I appreciated the effort. I didn’t know how badly he was dope-sick, only that he was feeling pretty terrible.
But for right now at least, he was clean.
Knock Knock.
We all spun in the direction of the door, equally surprised. Danielle was halfway back to the couch with drinks. Brandon and I were looking at each other.
“Probably the neighbor’s Door Dash,” Brandon grunted. “They always screw up the house number.”
Danielle was closest to the door. It opened before she reached it however, and Valerio came marching through. And then…
“Sloane?”
I stared on in disbelief as they grinned merrily, greeting Danielle on