I said, "I have a theory. And I'm wondering if I'm right."
"Yeah? What's the theory?"
Again, I lowered my voice. "That the guns were an accident."
He was silent for a long moment. "An accident?"
"Yeah. Like, they were in the trunk already, and you just happened to take the Camaro at a bad time. So now, you're stuck with them, and don't know how to give them back." I gave Joel a hopeful smile. "So, am I right?"
"No."
"Oh." I bit my lip. So much for my cheerful little theory.
Joel looked vaguely amused. "Sorry to disappoint you."
"I'm not disappointed."
He gave a low laugh. "Right."
"Well, okay," I said. "Maybe I'm alittledisappointed. I mean, who likes to be wrong?"
"No one," he said. "But that's not the reason you're disappointed."
"What makes you say that?"
"I can see it on your face."
"Oh."Busted.I cleared my throat. "So are you planning to return them?"
Joel gave it some thought. "Maybe."
Maybe? What kind of answer was that? I tried again. "But those belong to a different brother, right? Doesn't he want them back?"
"Oh, he wants them. But whether hegetsthem…" Joel gave a loose shrug. "I'm still deciding."
More confused than ever, I looked back to my marshmallow. I'd already eaten its crispy shell, so all that remained was a small shapeless blob on the end of a cold, dark stick.
Lost in thought, I held out the stick and positioned the blob over the fire. As I turned it over the flames, I asked, "Aren't you worried?"
"About what?"
"Getting in trouble."
"From who?" he said. "My brothers?"
I turned back to Joel. "Them, or someone else."
He gave me a cocky smile. "I'm not worried."
He looked so confident that I had to laugh. "Oh yeah? If that's the case, why are you in hiding?"
"Because I don't want them bugging me."
In spite of everything, I couldn't help but tease him at least a little. "Well, maybe theywouldn'tbe 'bugging you' if you didn't have their stuff."
Joel shook his head. "I know them. You don't."
His words reminded me of something he'd said at my house. The reminder stung, but I tried to laugh it off. "And I guess I never will, huh?"
