But you joke and you kid about the light switch

 "How long are you going to hold on to that thing?" Brick smirked as he pointed to the homemade stuffed toy that Valentina gave to Matty. Of course, Matty was deep in thought plopped there on his bed as if he were a million miles away. He was hugging on to the sock creature for dear life. According to Brick, anyway.

It was too cold to go out and shoot hoops. As it was, Brick's grandmother dropped him off at Matty's.

Matty twitched his lips slightly not sure it was even worth talking to Brick about Valentina. He hugged the bunny a little harder. 

"Oh, Lily and I made up after Thanksgiving," Brick shrugged. "I guess the pandemic worked in my favor. She can't even go to school. E-learning." Brick set down on the far edge of the bed and cracked a smile.

Matty didn't think he needed a friend right now. He winced, wishing  Brick would go home. 

"I guess we are just friends," Brick nodded about Lily but turned to look at Matty. "We are very good friends."

Matty scratched the top of his head, wondering where to start about Thanksgiving.

"Val found out she has a brother."

"Did you meet him?"

Matty nodded. "It was strange, though. Like..like she couldn't choose sides with her family so..so she just tells him I am her boyfriend." Matty didn't know what to make of it. 

Brick only nodded like it wasn't that big of a deal.

"Is-Is she afraid she might lose her mom now?" Matty knew it wasn't about him, but he didn't want to mention it to Val either. It wasn't exactly his business.

Brick shrugged and said maybe.

Matty nursed her bottom lip ever so slightly wondering where to go from here. He winced hard and looked at Brick. "I..I didn't even confess or anything? What if I got this all wrong ..and..and.."

"Hold up..." Brick used a little hand signal. "wait a minute..bro..just wait a minute. Actions are better than words..at least for me."

"What? You never? Not ever told Lily that you liked her?" Matty squinted a scowl that might have exposed his immaturity only a little.

"I didn't have to." Brick shrugged and looked away. "We just know these things."

Matty leaned back against his pillow and bumped his head ever so slightly against the wall. He wished he had that kind of faith. He needed that kind of faith with Valentina.