he replied, carefully measuring the words and trying to ignore the foul tasted at the back of his tongue, “in order for the talking to work, somebody’s got to listen.” Bastian shifted uncomfortably, propping one arm beneath his head. For a moment, he said nothing, but when she lifted her head to peer at him with sleepy, plaintive eyes, he felt he had little choice. More silence, but not for long.“How long has it been?”Bastian tilted his head and looked out the moonlit window. “Since I left fifteen years ago. I figured they’d had enough of me, and I’d certainly had enough of them—particularly my father, and my sister, too who’d spent a good bit of time defending him. What was left to say?”“What about your mom? I’ll bet she misses you like crazy.” Kaylee stroked the planes of his chest and moved her hand to his taut abdomen. “She died when I was young,” Bastian literally growled the words, his throat constricted, making swallowing even more difficult. Bastian could feel the foul taste behind his teeth now and tried to swallow it down. “I’m sorry.” Kaylee sat up, the moonlight a cool waft of silver blue in her long dark hair.“So am I. She chose it. I wanted to think she’d taken too much medicine—an accident--but later I knew the truth. She’d left me and my sister behind with our father. I guess that put things into perspective for me.”“I’m sorry, Bastian. I’ve been complaining about my mother and all the things she isn’t while you lost yours so young. I’m sorry.” Kaylee shook her head.Bastian tugged Kaylee’s arm, pulling her next to him. “It was a choice she made.”“Haven’t you called your sister since you left home?”“I figured she’d be better off forgetting about me and moving on. I knew there would be a lot less tension in that house once I’d gone. She wouldn’t have to defend my father for my benefit, and she wouldn’t have to defend me for his. It was better that way.” He drew the covers even more tightly around them.Kaylee laid her head on his chest. “I don’t believe that. You’re not the forgettable kind. What’s your sister’s name?”
