“Thanks for picking me up, Sis,” Travis said solemnly as I opened the door and led him into the house.

Both of his wrists had been wrapped up tight in braces and elastic bandages with little metal hooks that held them in place. “You…ah, didn’t say anything to my Dad, did you?”

I shook my head. “No. You aren’t, like, really hurt. There’s no reason they have to know right away.”

“Thanks.” He looked at me and gave a half-hearted smile. “Really, I mean it. You’re the best sister a guy could ask for.”

Heat rose up into my cheeks and around to both ears. I tried not to show...