Jax steps across the threshold. “Honey, I’m home.”
“Jaxon! Thank god you’re back.” Ma races to his side, wrapping him in a hug. “Where have you been? I’ve been so worried. You look thin. Have you been eating? I’ll fix you a plate. I’ve just put the enchiladas away, they’re still warm…”
“Give the boy a chance to speak, Flora.” Pa is staring at his son with narrowed eyes. “I think we’d all like to hear how he’s been spending his time, these past few weeks.”
Jaxon shifts his weight from foot to foot. “I just needed a bit of alone time.”
I scoff.
His eyes cut to mine, a warning in their depths.
“Alone time?” Ma’s nose wrinkles. “We spent two years without you,mijo. We missed you every day. You must understand how hard on us it is to have you back for such a short time… to watch you walk out again without warning…”
“Sorry, okay? I should’ve called.”
“What about work?” Pa asks bluntly. “Your manager at the tire shop said you haven’t shown up for your shifts.”
“I… uh.” Jaxon swallows. “I got another job.”
“What job?”
“An old friend of mine set it up.”
I scoff again. “Right.”
“Shut the fuck up, Archer.”
“Jaxon!” Ma cries. “Language!”
Pa’s voice drops low. “Don’t speak to your brother like that, Jaxon.”
“He’s disrespecting me!”
I roll my eyes. “To disrespect someone, they have to be worthy of respect in the first place.”
“Archer!” Ma turns to me with a shocked look. “Apologize.”
“No,” I say flatly, never shifting my eyes from my brother. I’m so fed up with him — with his lies, with his habits, with the way he keeps hurting my parents again and again. “Why don’t you tell them the details of your new job, Jax? Explain to them exactly what theseold friendsof yours have you doing.”
Silence falls over the room.
“What is he talking about, Jaxon?” Pa asks, stepping toward his eldest son.
“He’s just trying to stir up trouble!” Jax scratches at his ear, looking jittery. “He’s jealous I’m home. He wants to make me look bad.”
“Mijo,” Ma murmurs, examining him more closely. Awareness is creeping into her gaze. “Your brother loves you. We all love you.”
“If that’s true, then you’ll lay off me!” he yells. “You’ll cut me a little fucking slack while I try to get my life back on track!”
My parents trade a glance.
Jaxon starts to pace, nervous energy rolling off him in waves. “I had to ditch my car, okay? I need to borrow your truck, Pa. Just for a few days. It’s for a job.”
“I need my truck for my own work.” My father’s voice is steady, brooking no room for argument. “Perhaps we can find this car you…ditched… and get it fixed. I know a good mechanic in Rockport—”
“No! God, why are you always like this?” Jaxon exclaims. “Why can’t you ever just help me out?”
“We havehelped you out—” My mother makes air-quotes with her fingertips. “—many times in the past,mijo. You know we would do anything to make your life easier.”