Louise drives to the doctor.

‘I can’t thank you enough,’ John said again for the fifth time since they’d gotten in the car.

‘It’s fine, man,’ Louise retorted, laughing at her big brother’s insistent apologies. ‘Seriously. Forget about it.’ She kept both hands on the steering wheel as she drove, John silently grateful that the doctor was only a few blocks away. ‘But, you know. You owe me.’

John turned to her, trying to ignore the discomfort in his loins. ‘What?’

‘You said. If I drive you, you’ll pay me back, somehow.’ Louise kept her eyes forward, but John still noticed the mischievous look in her eye. ‘So, you owe me.’

He laughed and shook his head. ‘I mean, yeah, of course. But I meant, if you ever need me to give you a ride somewhere. Something like that.’ He cringed as they drove over a bump in the road. ‘Did you have something else in mind?’

Louise sighed and pursed her lips. ‘Maybe,’ she said under her breath, as if hoping John wouldn’t hear her.

He trained his eyes on her, wanting her to look at him, but she kept her eyes forward. ‘Well, what is it?’ he playfully prodded.

‘Nothing.’ Louise waved a hand at the conversation. ‘Forget about it.’

‘No, no, no. You’re not getting off that easy. Come on, I’m your big brother. If there’s something you need, just ask. I’ll help as best I can. Especially since I ‘owe you’.’

John laughed, but Louise’s face stayed stone still and unamused. ‘Just, don’t worry about it. We can talk about it later. Look, we’re here.’

She drove the car into the parking lot of the doctor’s, trying as hard as she could to avoid making eye contact with her big brother. John watched her with increasing suspicion, not knowing Louise to ever get as uncomfortable around him as she’d just demonstrated. Whatever was on her mind, he made a note to bring it up with her later, just like she’d suggested, and instead focused on the more important matter at hand.