Page 97 of Who I Really Am

“No problem.” But he looks ticked, so I add, “It’s alright. I don’t expect your mom to cook for me.”

Gaze drifting, his face shadows.

“Is everything alright?”

His jaw is set at a hard angle. “She’s taken a second job waiting tables at the diner in town. Not that anyone bothered to tell me.”

Clearly, this is more earthshattering news than it appears on the surface.

Shaking his head, he refocuses. “I’ll go reheat some stuff, if that’s okay?”

Like he needs to ask. “Of course.”

The door is almost closed when he pokes his head back in. “Take your medicine?”

My heart does a silly flip-flop. “Yes, sir.” I salute like a soldier. Goofy, I know, and I’m overly pleased with the exasperated headshake I receive in return.

I follow him to the kitchen. It’s not his responsibility to wait on me.

He tries to shoo me away, but this kind of thing can’t go on. I can take care of myself. I mean, I’ve only killed two goldfish and a half-dozen houseplants in my lifetime, so, yeah, I should be able to handle my own wellbeing, right?

He digs a bunch of plastic containers and one giant pot of chili from the refrigerator. I receive them, setting them onto the counter, but before I know it, I’ve been ordered to the table, where I sit and watch him work. Look that bad, do I?

Right as I begin to smell the rich aroma wafting from the heating pot, Marco’s phone goes off again, and this time he carries out several minutes of text conversation. On the hint of a grumble, he stuffs the phone into his back pocket. “I’m going to have to leave you for a while. If that’s okay?”

I wave off his worry. “Of course. Where are you going?”

He empties the contents of a container into a glass dish and sets it in the microwave, punching numbers into the keypad. “The high school. Rachel has a volleyball game tonight. I’ve wanted to see her play for a while.”

“Sounds fun. I’m glad it’s working out for you to go.”

Nodding, he frowns as he drags a giant spoon through the chili. “Mom has to miss, though.”

“That’s too bad.” Obviously, this whole night job is an issue for Marco.

While I dawdle over my meal, he consumes his larger bowl in no time flat, then grabs a ball cap from a hook by the door. Aw, he’s adorable in a hat.

His keys jingle when he takes them from his pocket. “Game starts in twenty minutes. Just…make yourself at home, I guess.” He opens the door, allowing the road noise of a passing car. He pushes the metal door closed again, his expression serious. “So, you’ll stay inside, right?”

“Umm…sure.” What else would I do?

“Okay, well…that’s probably a good idea.” He squints out the window, hand on the doorknob. “Lock up behind me, alright?”

“I will.”

I stir up another spoonful of chili.

“I meannow.”

I find a rather hard look directed my way. Alrighty then. I scoot my chair back, and he waits on the small landing outside, not descending until I engage the lock.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times…twins, Marco and that brother of mine. No wonder they fight.

Family does that.

CHAPTER 27

Annalise