Free Whatever Doesn't Kill You by Elizabeth Wennick

all in. Her eyes keep going back to the clear Rubbermaid containers full of yarn and knitting patterns.
    â€œSo you really know how to knit?” she finally says. “I mean, I’ve seen you in school, but…you look like you’re really serious about it with all this stuff.”
    â€œYeah. My mom taught me when I was seven. Before she was really, um, sick.”
    â€œSo all those weird sweaters and hats and stuff you wear…you make them all?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œThat’s so cool. Seriously. I mean, I always thought you just got them at the Goodwill or something, but you actually…like, you’re some kind of artist or something.”
    I shrug. “I guess. I never really thought that much about it.”
    We chat for a few more minutes before Simon knocks on the door and yells through it that he’s brought home KFC.
    â€œNo need to yell. You can open the door,” Ashley yells back. “We’re not naked or anything.” And she giggles madly, but I don’t really get the joke.
    Simon opens the door, pokes his head around. “Hmm. I don’t know you. When Wex said Jenna had a friend over, I just figured it was Katie or Elvira.”
    I throw a book at him. The Chrysalids . It bounces off his head, but it’s a paperback so it probably doesn’t hurt him too much. “Her name’s Marie-Claire, you loser. And this is Ashley.”
    â€œIs Ashley staying for dinner?”
    â€œAshley could, if she’s invited,” she says with a big smile. Ye gads, is she flirting with my brother? Ew. What is it with people trying to flirt with Simon? It’s not like he’s terrible-looking, I guess, it’s just…strange. And it’s not like he even seems to notice. Besides, he’s almost eighteen years older than we are, which is just gross.
    Simon cocks an eyebrow. “Well, Ashley and Jenna should wash up, because dinner is going to be on the table in about two minutes, and Wex has been known to put away half a bucket of chicken on his own.”
    He closes the door behind him, and Ashley claps me on the shoulder like we’re the best of friends. “Your brother’s cute. ”
    â€œHe’s thirty-two.”
    â€œWell, for an old guy, I mean. I don’t want to do him or anything, but he’s kind of weirdly adorable. Does he have a girlfriend?”
    â€œNope. Not for as long as I’ve known him.”
    â€œThat’s weird.”
    I shrug. I’d never thought of it as weird before that Simon doesn’t go out on dates. He doesn’t go out with friends either. He doesn’t do much of anything, as a matter of fact. He’s just…here.

    Ashley is charming and animated over dinner, like she’s part of the family. She makes a big show of playing with Wex, pretending to steal his nose even though he’s really too old for that game, but Wex eats it right up, giggling and trying to grab her hand. Afterward she plunks herself down on the couch with us to watch TV —just makes herself right at home.
    â€œSo what’s there to do around here at night?” she wants to know.
    I shrug. “I usually watch TV and knit. Or go over to Katie’s. That’s pretty much it. What do you do at night?”
    â€œHang out. Go to the park or the mall or something.”
    We sit for a few minutes, staring at the TV . Ashley takes the remote control and flips through the channels, but there’s nothing on worth watching.
    â€œHey, you want to see something?” I say finally.
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    Simon is busy helping Wex get his pajamas on and his teeth brushed, and I know that as soon as Wex is in bed, Simon is going to flop out on the couch for the evening. I dig in the pocket of his jacket and pull out a huge wad of keys. I stuff them in the pocket of my hoodie, holding them tight so they don’t jingle and attract Simon’s attention.
    â€œLet’s