Jake sat in a place of last resort, alone in the master bathroom. Eyes closed, he wore the most forlorn expression. If it weren't for his pale cheeks and downturned mouth, then I would've giggled at his long arms and legs spilling out of the bathtub at odd and uncomfortable angles. "Hey." I crouched down and curled my fingers on the cool porcelain. "Time to go home." His eyes opened, then shifted to me with a heavy sadness. "Ellie?" That look was enough, and my heart pinched around itself. He knew what was happening in that other bedroom. When my brother hurt, I hurt. I patted his shoulder, then grabbed his arm. "Yup. Let's go, big brother." Tucking under Jake's armpit, I mouth-breathed around his unpleasant, musky body odor. Had he bathed in beer? We slugged down the stairs one awkward, three-legged race step at a time. "Ellieeeeeeee," he slurred in my ear. I would have laughed at how ridiculous we looked, me dragging him through the house. His weight almost crushed me. "I'm right here, Jake. Let's go." The cool air was the most refreshing thing I'd breathed since arriving. Sweat circled my armpits by the time I clicked his seat belt. When I stood up, he grabbed my hand. His eyes, almost black, were as remorseful as his gravelly voice. "Ellie." He wouldn't remember this conversation, even if I recorded it. Not that I'd ever done that. Nope. Of course, I had. Drunk Jake was the most honest, filterless version of himself. "Yes?" He ran his tongue over his dry, pale lips. "Thank you." "Any time." "She was here tonight," he mumbled and closed his eyes. "Camille." "Hang on." I slammed the door in his face, then ran to the other side. "Jake?" I shook my head and slammed my door. "We're not unpacking that shit show because I'll get road rage. Say the word, and I'm happy to go back in there and punch her ovaries." His eyes stayed closed, but his mouth stretched into a sloppy grin. "I'd like to see you do that someday." "She's batshit crazy," he whispered. No argument here. "You're such a sucker for blonde hair, blue eyes, and big boobs. And hey, no passing out in the car. I'm not lifting your fat ass out of the car bridal-style at home." His grin curled up into a smirk. "There's no fat on me." I did the nicest possible sisterly thing: I reached over and twisted his left nipple with my index finger and thumb. Hard. "Oww!" The purple nipple treatment worked. His dilated brown eyes flipped open. "Ellie." "No sleeping," I scolded and pulled away from Harrison Street. "Why are you in such a bad mood? You're not… PMSing, are you?" The cringe on his face was almost comical as he rubbed his palm over his nipple. He deserved a matching pair for that remark. "No!" Now was not the time to tell him about Logan, but I could mention something that lingered in my mind. It was better to discuss while he was drunk. "I… umm, had a nightmare," I mumbled at the steering wheel. Jake sat up as if struck by lightning. "The nightmare?" I couldn't help but smile. He remembered, which warmed my chest. "Yeah." I swallowed against the tension in my throat as the overhead suburban street lights flashed highlights and shadows on my knuckles. "The one with Ryder." "Shit, Ellie." Jake ran his fingers through his dark waves. "How many?" "One," I assured him with a slow, heavy sigh. "That's why Harper and I were at the beach. She was trying to help me forget about it." "Fuck, I didn't know. Any idea why?" When I shook my head, he cursed again and brought a clenched fist to his mouth. A faraway look glazed his dark eyes, and he mumbled, "Fuck, I'm sorry. Thanks for telling me." "No secrets." Except for one tiny, gigantic asshole secret. But that was done. Correction: I was done, with Logan or any boy. Tomorrow's reset button couldn't come fast enough. "Maybe because it's a new school year?" he offered after a few blocks of silence. "New set of losers, but I have your back. I'm not going to let anything happen to you, Ellie." I offered a fleeting smile. "I know." "Kieran was looking for you tonight." His hands curled around his seatbelt. "Yeah? He found someone else." After what I wished I hadn't seen tonight, Kieran had zero rebound issues. "And he can have her, as far as I'm concerned." Jake threw me a lopsided grin. My nose twitched from the party stench that wafted from his gigantor body. His head tipped back, but he didn't flinch when I cracked open his window. The question of how well he knew Logan played on my tongue, but other than a few flutters of Jake's lashes flickering shadows over his cheeks, his response was an inaudible groan. Guess that conversation's over. It was for the best. My tired eyes welcomed our house's brown brick exterior and worn red shutters. After two more nipple yanks, Jake slugged out of his intent to sleep in the car. By the silence, except for the living room clock ticking, we hadn't disturbed our parents. I tossed Jake face-down on his bed, turned his head to the side, and pulled an empty trash can close. A smile creased my lips at his peaceful expression. I patted his soft waves and tucked a blanket over him. One of his large hands wrapped around my wrist, and he slurred in a low and raspy voice, "You're the best." "Keep that in mind when I cash in these favors." I withdrew my hand, which flopped his arm in a noodle over the edge of his bed. "Two parties for Ellie and zero face punches for Jake." "One," he mumbled with his eyes closed. A faint glow from the streetlamp cast a slight orange tint over his skin. "Kieran wouldn't shut up about asking you out… Didn't think he'd go for her though." I rolled my eyes at Jake's omitted details. Kieran kneading Camille's breasts like bread dough meant he didn't like me, but I wasn't worth a face punch under any circumstances. "You didn't hit him, did you?" "I told him you'd rather go out with Harper," he mumbled into his pillow. I rolled my eyes and gave him one more head pat. My hand stopped when he said, "Then I hit him." Stupid boys. Put a fork in Ellie; she's done. I shut his door and groaned. The 1:14 am time on my alarm clock hit me like a punch in the stomach. Ache filled down to the tips of my fingers as I texted Harper. Tension knotted my shoulders, and my eyelids hung heavy as a slow, hot yawn rose in my throat. The best part of today was it ended. Tomorrow, I could forget about today like it never happened