“Chloe!” I hear a man’s voice yell from inside and the guy who picked Kailey up from the airport appears in the doorway. Seeing Kailey, he waves his hand and walks back into the house.

“Hey, girly,” Kailey bends down and allows the girl to run into her arms before wrapping them tightly around her.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” she sighs to Kailey.

“I’m sorry, do you want to meet my friend?” Kailey picks her up and faces me.

“Hi, Trey!” The little girl says without introduction. Kailey looks at her in disbelief. “What? You talk about him all the time,” the girl continues, much to Kailey’s chagrin.

“Hi, Chloe,” I say and raise my hand for a high five and she slaps it right away. “It’s nice to meet you,” I tell her and I notice her eyes roaming my body.

“You have a lot of drawing on your body.” Kailey laughs, and I chuckle.

“Yeah,” I agree, having no idea what else to say. I’ve never had to be around little kids before.

“They’re called tattoos,” Kailey informs her, and Chloe just continues her stares. “Let’s go in, there’s two other little ones for you to meet.” She rustles the hair on Chloe’s head and lets her down. Once her small feet hit the grass, she’s off and inside the house.

“Sorry, kids have no filter,” Kailey says, taking my hand in hers.

“No problem.” I become more nervous the closer we come to the house. You can do this, Trey Michaels, you lo–like this girl.

Once we get on the porch, I suck in one more deep breath and follow Kailey into the warm and welcoming house. My body instantly calms when I enter, noticing all the pictures of family that fill the walls. Seriously, I’ve never seen so many pictures in all my life. Most look to have been taken recently, and I half wonder if it’s because her sister is dying. “I just recently surprised Jen with a photo shoot I did of the kids,” Catching me checking out all the pictures, Kailey whispers to me.

“They’re amazing,” I say, allowing my hands to graze across one of all three of the kids surrounding a woman a few years older than Kailey. The uncanny resembles evident, telling me exactly what she’ll look like in ten years. “I had no idea you were a photographer.”

She laughs. “I’m not, but it was for class. Jen hasn’t had time to unpack all of the family photos since they moved in, so I did it for their anniversary.” She winks at me, obviously remembering our project that I had to beg Professor Hodges to be allowed to make-up. Crap, which reminds me I only have until Monday to finish it. “You want to borrow my camera?” she asks, noticing my rambling thoughts about my project.

“The pictures I want to take can’t be seen by anyone, but me.” I mention, pulling her closer and kissing her neck. “But if you’re up for it, I won’t complain,” I whisper, and she pats my chest.

“I’m sure something could be arranged,” she teases and scurries out of my embrace.

“Oh young love, isn’t it great, Caden,” the same woman from the pictures says, walking into the room.

“Remember those days, sweetheart. Before diapers, bottles, late night feedings, screaming—” Caden says.

“And Cancer,” Jen adds and the room goes silent. “Ugh, they never appreciate my jokes,” she says directly to me, holding her hand out. “Jen Campbell,” she introduces herself.

“It’s nice to meet you. Trey Michaels.” I present my best smile her way.

“So, I’ve heard.” She loops her arm through mine. “Come in, let me show you some embarrassing pictures of Kailey.” She giggles, rising her eyebrows in Kailey’s direction, who just shakes her head, allowing her sister to take me away.

We walk further into the house to what I assume is the family room, filled with toys, a large screen television, and an oversized couch. Blankets and pillows fill a recliner to be a make shift bed. She passes that and takes me right to the couch with Caden and Kailey in tow. “So, Trey, tell me about yourself. I already know the easy stuff, you’re an architecture major from Oberlin, and my favorite–play drums in a band called The Invisibles. Which by the way, kind of a lame ass name, you boys couldn’t come up with anything better?” I chuckle at her straight forwardness and catch Kailey’s eyes. “Oh, she’s no help, so don’t bother looking her way. All she tells me about is your body.” Her eyes appraise my body, like I’m a Chippendale dancer, and she looks at Kailey. “Great description, sis. His arms might not be as big as you described,” her hand clasps around my bicep, “but that face. Mmm—a girl could lost in those eyes.”

My body shifts uncomfortable of her talking this way with her husband ten steps away. “Oh don’t be shy.” She scoots closer again. “Kailey, didn’t you tell him?” Kailey focuses her attention to us and scrunches her eyebrows while Caden snickers in the kitchen. “The reason you brought him...” she tries to trigger her memory, but Kailey still appears dumb founded until she nods, signaling a light bulb just came on.

“I told him, Jen,” Kailey clarifies and nods.

“Good, so after the kids go to bed,” she teases her fingertips along my thigh, “we’ll swap.” Her voice steady and nonchalant. My head snaps to Kailey, and she shrugs her shoulders casually. “It’s my dying wish,” she whispers in my ear, her heavy breaths tickling my earlobe.

My eyes bug out, like I’ve been electrocuted. The thought of thousand bolts of electricity running through my body suddenly seems a hell of a lot better alternative than what’s being suggested right now.

Then Kailey bellows with laughter, pointing her finger at me, and her sister joins in. “You girls are evil.” Caden comes in and hands me a beer. “Well-deserved.” He clinks his bottle with mine. The two sisters continue to laugh until the sound of a crying baby screams out of the white speaker on the table next to me.

“I got it, Jen,” Kailey says when her sister slowly starts to get up. Jen sits back down as Kailey leaves the room, and Caden turns on baseball. At least I know I’ll have one thing in common with him. Of course, it only makes me remember I have to tell Kailey my secret once we’re alone tonight.

“I’m sorry, Trey. I couldn’t resist, you looked so nervous standing there,” Jen says, still trying to stifle her giggles. “So, while she’s not here,” she looks down the hall before continuing, “Caden and I want her to get out and have fun. You seem like you like to have fun.” Her eyes cascade over my tats, just like her daughter did outside moments ago. “She takes on way too much around here, will you do me a favor?” She waits for me to nod. “Have fun with each other, but don’t break her heart, okay? Okay.” She stands up gingerly and walks into the kitchen without my answer, although it would have been yes, so I guess it doesn’t matter. I’m really liking her though—a lot.

“My wife has her own way of making people feel welcome,” Caden says, continuing to watch the Tigers play the Indians. “Run!” he hollers at the television, and I relax into the comfortable cushions, taking a swig of my beer.

“She’s funny, I can appreciate that,” I respond while keeping my eyes glued to the television.

“Yeah, I think her humor has increased with her sickness,” he mentions, and not sure how to respond, I remain quiet. The silence doesn’t seem to bother him. “Unlike my wife, though, I need to ask a little more of you than her.” This time he turns his head my way. Unsure of what he’s talking about, I sit up straighter. “See Kailey’s like my sister. I’ve known her since she was eleven. I know she’s been straight with you because that’s Kailey. She’s not one to play games or hide. It took a lot for her to tell you about Jen, so I ask that if you honestly can’t be there for her, just end it now because it will only be harder later. At least if you end it now, she’ll have her sister to console her. Later, she might only have me.” He turns his head to the side, breathing before facing me again. “I won’t be enough for her and it could break her, losing her sister and a guy who didn’t care enough.” He pauses again. “Listen, I’ve been around guys like you my whole life, fun loving, carefree, and uncommitted. So, I might not be as strong as you, or as fast, but believe me when I say, rage can be powerful,” he finishes and relaxes back to his chair watching television. I guess he doesn’t want to hear it, just wants me to prove it.