"The sold sign," I said. "You know, in the front yard."
"Well,Ididn't put it there."
At this, a spark of wild hope kindled in my heart. "So, what are saying? Youdidn'tsell the house?"
"Well…I didn'twantto sell it," he said. "I just had to, that's all."
My heart sank.So much for hope.
Jason said, "So who told you it was sold?"
By now, my jaw was so tight, I could hardly speak. "You mean aside from the sign?Andfrom the fact you stood me up?"
"Sure, whatever. How'd you find out?"
The question grated. "Does it matter?"
"It might."
"Fine," I said. "I heard it from the guy you sold it to."
At this, Jason swallowed so loud, I actually heard it through the phone. Sounding sick to his stomach, he said, "You did?"
"Well, I certainly didn't hear it fromyou."
In a hushed voice, he said, "He's not with you now, is he?"
Brody? No.But he was still nearer than I would've liked. From somewhere just outside the bathroom, I could hear his voice, muffled, but unmistakable as he and Waverly discussed whatever.
When she gave a flirty laugh, it reminded me of fingernails on a chalkboard. Or maybe I was just irritated with everyone, especially my elusive cousin.
In reply to his question, I told him, "No one's with me. I'm in a room by myself."
"You mean in Lansing?"
Obviously, he meant East Lansing, where Michigan State was located. "No. I graduated. Just last week. Remember?"
"But you're not still here in Bayside, are you?" He hesitated. "I mean, you went back home to Lansing, right?"
Didn't he get it?East Lansing wasn't home.Thiswas home. After graduation, I'd been planning to build a life here, to get a local job, to fix up the house and keep it in the family.
And if Jason thought I'd simply wander off into the sunset, it was time to inform him otherwise. "I'm not going anywhere until I get some answers."
"From who?"
"From you. Obviously."
"Oh. Right." Again, he hesitated. "So where are you staying?"
"At the house across the street."
"From where?" he asked.
"From Grandpa and Grandma's place." My fingers clenched around the phone. "You know, the house wesupposedlyowned together?"
"Shit."
With growing irritation, I said, "What now?"
