Free Compulsion by Heidi Ayarbe Page A

girl?”
    “Burger-joint-grocery-money girl.”
    “Tanya Reese.”
    “Tanya Reese? Tan-yeah Reese?”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “She’s . . . ” Kase says.
    “She’s what?” I ask.
    “You know. Like, do you know her?”
    “ Know her? In that biblical knowing way? Or in the way we were in Mr. Nutting’s fourth-grade class together. She used to sell Girl Scout cookies,” I say, surprised I’m defending Tanya.
    “Well, what kind of badge is she working toward now? Virgin crusaders? Are you her last good deed?”
    “Kase.” I hold up my hand. “Don’t.”
    She knows she’s crossed the line. “Sorry.”
    “Fine.” I close my books.
    “You got lots of homework?” Kase asks, breaking the silence.
    “It can wait. It’s for Monday. So tell me about your day,” I say after swallowing down the knot that lodged in my throat, trying to bring the routine back.
    Kasey complains about Mr. Gorski’s comb-over and how her friend Lisa has a crush on me which she’s totally pissed about because that’s not cool and breaks some kind of code the group has written up and signed. Then she mentions this party Mario Gomez is throwing this weekend. Mario’s place is famous for a massive loft upstairs, four or five storage closets, perfect for getting laid.
    “No.” There’s no way I’m taking Kasey to the closest thing to a teenage brothel for her first rager.
    “It’s for maintenance, Jake. Really. It’s not like I’m going to drink or anything. Plus it’ll be fun. I’m going with Jessica and Marcy. I’ll take my cell. C’mon. You’ve gotta back me up on this one.”
    “No.” I shake my head. “Not at Mario’s.”
    “It’s just a stupid party,” she insists. “The whole school is going.”
    “I can’t be worried about that kind of shit this weekend. Another weekend. And I’ll go with you all. Just to hang out. But not now. I’ve been to parties up there, and it’s not a cool scene.” I haven’t actually been to parties there. But I’ve heard enough about them to know Kase shouldn’t go.
    “You owe me.”
    One of the buzzers dings from under the couch cushion. “Which one is this for?” I ask, pulling it out.
    “Pot roast,” she says, grabbing some oven mitts. I open the oven and pull out the rack so Kasey can grab the pan. She places it on a trivet and comes back to the table. “So? Are you going to cover for me or be the total asshole brother of the century?”
    “Those are my options?”
    She glares and I wonder what crackers brand she has designated for me. Like all this hiding I do—all this sneaking around isn’t even sneaking. It’s just everybody else not seeing what is, just what they want to see. Does Kasey see?
    Does Mera?
    Who else?
    “I know you do a ton for me.” I clear my throat. “I know you help me out. But not this weekend.”
    “It’s not like I need your permission.” She pouts.
    “Like hell you don’t. It’s not gonna happen. Period. Not at Mario’s, okay?”
    “Thanks a lot, Jake.”
    I put my arm around her and ignore her protests. “Not this weekend. I promise I’ll cover for you next weekend. I’ll go next weekend. And you can even invite Lisa.” I smirk.
    “Asshole.” She punches my arm.
    I laugh. “You’re all I’ve got that matters, okay?”
    “Yeah,” she mutters. “Flattery isn’t gonna cut it today. I’ll go to the next party. No matter what.”
    “I’ll take you.”
    “You won’t let me down?”
    “Not this time.” I hope not, anyway. I’m always trying to make up for the things I do wrong, chasing time, fixing the past.
    “At least you’re honest.” Another buzzer goes off, and we pull out a pan of pork chops.
    She yawns.
    “I’ll take care of everything down here in the land of the Food Network. Go watch TV or something.”
    “Now you’re just trying to make up for being asshole brother of the universe.”
    “Thought it was century.”
    “Time and place,” Kasey says. “Of the universe this