37
The warm June weather gave way to a sprawling Carolina heat as July dawned. Triple-digit temperatures seeped into the region, stirring up thunderstorms and intermittent showers every day. Fireflies emerged again, flickering in the night sky, as a sense of contentment settled over Haven.
She ventured outside with Carmine every day, strolling through the backyard in her bare feet. She climbed trees and chased bugs, picked flowers and ran through sprinklers, and all the while Carmine urged her on. His support became invaluable to her, and Haven couldn’t imagine going a single day without him.
She’d have to, though. They both knew it.
“Aren’t you gonna be late, bro?” Dominic asked as he walked into the family room, where the two of them sat. Haven sighed exasperatedly, having asked that same question a moment ago. She had been trying to get Carmine to leave for the past thirty minutes, but he wouldn’t budge.
Carmine slouched down. “I’m not going.”
Dominic laughed. “Scared you’ll get hurt?”
“I’m not afraid,” Carmine said.
“Then quit whining and go.”
Carmine grumbled incoherently, still not appearing like he had any intention of moving. He was scheduled to attend football camp for a week in Chapel Hill. He’d been fine with going away and talked incessantly about what he would do when he was there, and she had listened, although she didn’t know what encroachment or interference or any of that other stuff meant. She was just grateful he was sharing something with her.
But this morning, when Haven opened her eyes, there was no smile on Carmine’s lips. None of the excitement was present anymore. All she saw was her own anxiety reflecting back to her.
“You have to go,” she said at the same time he uttered the words he had been repeating all morning: “I’m not going.”
He pretended to be interested in the television, but she could see his eyes drifting to the clock. Time was running out. He was supposed to be at the University of North Carolina by five to check in and it was already past one.
“I’ll still be here when you get back.”
His eyes snapped in her direction. “Of course you will. Where else would you be?”
She sighed—that was the wrong thing to say.
“Don’t worry about her, man,” Dominic said, walking up behind them. “I have plans for her this week. I’m going to keep her so busy she won’t even realize you’re gone.”
Haven smiled but didn’t believe his words.
“You’ll get her in more trouble than she could ever find on her own,” Carmine said. “Maybe that’s why I’m not going.”
Dominic laughed. “If you aren’t going, you must not trust her.”
Anger flashed across his face. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Afraid she can’t hack it without you?”
“I know she can.”
“So why aren’t you going?”
Carmine glared at him but didn’t respond.
The front door opened, and Dr. DeMarco paused in the entrance to the family room. “I thought you’d be gone by now,” he said, focusing his attention on Carmine. “Aren’t you going to be late?”
Carmine’s expression softened into a pout. “Would you people get off my nuts? I’ll go in a minute.”
Dr. DeMarco walked away while Dominic punched Carmine on the shoulder. “That’s it, be a man! The sooner you leave, the sooner Haven and I can start having fun.”
Carmine rubbed his arm but once again didn’t respond to his brother. Dominic walked out, and Carmine pulled Haven to him. “I’d hide you in my suitcase and take you with me if I could.”
“Don’t worry. Go do some field goals and play some runs.”