CHAPTER 2 Weekly Dinner

Every week we eat at my older sister Xeress's place.

She owns a sleek condo that smells like expensive perfume and red wine.

She answers the door wearing glasses and a silk blouse.

She always looks elegant.

Too elegant to be related to me.

"Adam," she says warmly.

I nod.

"Hey."

Inside everyone’s already there.

Scott lounges on the couch, looking like trouble in human form.

Kacey is arguing with Jason about carburetors.

Katie one of my brothers who he has been seeing for ages now—tattoos, leather jacket, biker boots—spots me and grins.

"Sweetheart!"

Before I can react she grabs me in a crushing hug.

I awkwardly pat her shoulder.

"Hey Katie."

She pokes my ribs.

"You look like a ghost again. You eating?"

"Sometimes."

"That ain't an answer."

Vincent stands by the kitchen counter, tall and composed, like a movie star that wandered into a crime family.

He nods at me.

"Adam."

He always treats me like a little brother.

Actually they all do be it my own siblings or their significant others.

Dinner starts.

Wine glasses clink.

Food passes around the table.

I mostly listen.

They talk about engines.

Road trips.

Bike rallies.

How family buisness is going.

Anything normal.

Eventually Xeress looks at me and then pokes me playfully with her fork.

"You should go outside more."

"I go outside."

"To kill people," Scott says.

I shrug.

Katie ruffles my hair.

"One day we're dragging you to a festival, honey."

"Sounds loud."

They laugh.

And for a moment…

The basement doesn't feel so cold anymore.