ro

d over the phone. I take the subway and walk the last few blocks

exted to me, I'm met with a hug

gate out front. The gate hangs open, so I let myse

reaching from the trellises onto the house's facade. They ar

or. I knew that Noah had been doing well for

ppears in the doorway, grinning. He tackles me

proclaims, ruffling my hair a

riggle out of his grasp. That's siblings for you. "But yeah, i

ome on inside. Let

lighting fixtures. The inside of the house is every bit as beautiful

oah says, leading me down a hallway. "That stuff got refurbished last year, just before

g how crazy

prett

far cry from the narrow space where I cook my meals, where I barely have room to turn around. Noah's

say, open

ig

ed all this space for, anyway? It's not like you're plann

keeps the good-natured smile. "Oh, you know my job is my baby.

rust me," I say. "It's

n the window above the sink. "Yeah, it sure is. It's huge. Lots of space."

uckle. "No, thank y

sness taking over his expression. "Hey, I m

oa

hunt. Or you could move in with me, and stop worrying about

ok out for me. Over the years, he's even managed to get some things to

but I can't take you up on this. I don't want to be

y n

urself," I tell him. "Now

u've always b

Damn right. Now come on. Show me the

y does-most likely, he's aware that it's futile to keep trying

ing room, and an office. He guides me through the second and third floors-bedrooms, bathrooms, an entertainment s

ead back downstairs. "I can't believe

. "I keep waking up and just drinking

ding? You should be proud of yo

eems almost dazed.

shown me ev

says. "Oh-" An excited gleam appe

reat about t

" he says. "Wet bar,

s. I hear Noah's laugh from behind me as I make my way up and dow

at closet in a row. "It's over here," he says, smi

nd the bar area. There's a flatscreen hanging in the corner, some leather couc

ck in the day," I say, hea

ah says. "The o

sement of the local rec center, where we used to spend hours as kids. It was beaten-up and shabby, nothing like

ly into the ever-familiar pattern of over-competitiv

one of the pool cues hanging there, twirling it with a w

sets it on the felt surface, then starts to gather the billia

ney on it? Five b

're