Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“How are you?” I ask, playing it neutral.
“Okay. Been better, been worse. Never been busier though.” He chuckles. “I’m so damn busy that I started keeping a calendar.”
I laugh. “Well, that’s saying something because I never dreamed you, of all people, would keep a calendar like a dork.”
“Easy, easy.” He sighs as the tension between us begins to relax. “What day are you flying home?”
I sit back in my seat, clicking open another student email. Drew’s question sounds harmless, a typical question you might ask a family member, but it’s not. He’s fishing for information and trying to be sly about it.
It’s too bad that I’ve watched him use this tactic on so many people in my lifetime … including me. I’m only realizing it now. Do I really know my brother at all?
That thought has been bouncing around in my head for days, and I don’t have an answer.
“Saturday,” I say, considering what I share before I say it. “I leave here pretty early, and I’ll be there by lunchtime.”
“Need a ride from the airport? I’m getting in around ten thirty and have a car picking me up to take me to Mom’s.”
Ah-ha! I get to my feet because, somehow, sitting feels like I have the weaker hand. Drew wants to know if I’m coming alone because he knows if I had a plus-one, I’d never let him pick us up.
“No, thank you,” I say sweetly. I hesitate, then figure, why not? “I’m staying at Ruma this time.”
“The hotel?”
“Yes. They just opened it a couple of months ago, and everyone’s raving about it. Fenton Abbott is supposedly the world’s biggest luxury hotelier, and the Boston hotel is getting rave reviews. Felt like a good way to spend my money.” And time, but I’m not going into that.
He hums, thrown off by my answer—as designed.
“Is that it?” I ask. “I have a bunch of stuff to catch up on before I leave for the weekend.”
“You’re never behind. What’s going on?”
It’s another pointed poke into my story to see if he can get whatever information he’s after … information about Brooks. He’s not mentioned him, but I know Drew well enough to know he didn’t forget him, either. He’s playing a set of cards in his trademark Machiavellian way. I normally overlook him because it never really affected me, but I think I’m over that.
“Why don’t you come out and ask me what you’re after?” I ask, amused by using Brooks’s words on Drew. If my brother knew exactly how Brooks was using that phrase on me this week …
“What do you mean?” he asks.
“You don’t care why I’m behind or if I need a ride from the airport or what time I’m getting in. So, just ask what you want to know so we can move on.”
He takes an irritated breath. “Talked to Dempsey in a while?”
“Do you know what, Andrew? That’s none of your business. And while I appreciate your concern, please know that I did listen to it and evaluated it, but my decisions are my own.”
“So, that’s a yes?”
I sigh. “Honestly? I don’t know what’s going to happen, if anything, between Brooks and me. That’s the truth. And regardless of what that answer is, I’d hope that you could set aside whatever grievances you have with him for the benefit of your little sister. Because I’d do that for you.”
The line is quiet for a while. I’d think he hung up if his name wasn’t glowing on the screen.
“You’re right,” he says, his tone lighter. “I’m sorry, Aud. I never should have pulled you into this. We’re family before anything else.”
“Apology accepted,” I say, pleasantly surprised. “Thank you for not being a brat about this.”
“There can only be one brat in the family, and you have that on lockdown.”
“Funny. Now, are you done? I have work to do.”
“Yeah, I’m done. Be good. Be smart. And I’ll see you on Saturday.”
“See ya then. Bye.”
“Later.”
I flop back in my seat with the widest, most relieved grin of my life.
Things are finally coming together.
I take a breath, feeling a peace settle over my soul.
If Anna had lived, how different would our dynamic have been with three siblings and not two? Would Drew be as thoughtlessly reckless? Would I have been so quiet and reserved? Would she have been the gel that bound us together? That soothed the rough edges?
What would she have thought about my time with Brooks? I stretched myself emotionally and physically while we were away, but I also pushed myself to be firmer and bolder with Drew, too.
I’m proud of myself.
And I think Anna would be proud.
Whimsy List: Updated
Have a one-night stand.
ORGASM! (with a man)
Wear a bold lipstick.
Buy more lingerie (and wear it often).
Stop being sweet.
Learn to flirt.
Take a self-defense class.
Get a tattoo.
Sleep in the dark without being scared.