“I–”
“Sage, you’re putting your health at risk, I can’t sit back and let you do that.” I can’t stand her brothers, but from all of the conversations I’ve heard of her on FaceTime with them for hours on end, I know they care about her. She clearly won’t listen to me, but maybe they can get to her.
She shakes her head before looking back at her phone. “I’m not telling them. I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine.”
“Yes, I am.” She starts playing another video, and the way she dismisses me annoys the shit out of me, but rather than snatching the phone from her hand, I look forward and do the stupid breathing exercises I've been working on. When I look back over at her, she's smiling at her phone, and her pretty dimples ease more of my anger. It's clear she doesn’t want to talk, so I let her have her way this time, but she’s either going to work on this eating disorder with me, with her brothers, or she’s never walking a runway show again.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sage
When Sire opens the door,he tells me to keep quiet but then immediately pulls me in for a hug. When we pull away, I look around for what we’re being quiet for, but then my eyes land on Vidia on his couch.
I smile at how peaceful she looks compared to how restless she seemed when she was telling me about the break-in yesterday. When I turn back to Sire, his eyes are on her. I study him as he watches her, and maybe I just really want them to get back together, but he watches her like he wants to climb onto the couch next to her and hold her forever.
“How has she been?” It’s been a little while since the break-in, but I know she isn’t going to get over something like that overnight. Sire lets out a sigh and turns back to me.
“She says she’s okay, but-” He sort of shrugs, and I can tell he’s hurting.
“How areyou?”
“I’m fine,” he answers too quickly, and I give him a knowing look. “I really am, Sage. I’ve been talking to my sponsor, and Lis has also been checking in.”
I give him a soft nod as I continue to study him, and he really does seem better than the last time I came to visit, so I choose to believe him.
I asked Lis to check in, and she said she was already doing that, which made me feel better. I know August, and I always tell Sire that he can talk to us about his addiction, but I also know he would rather talk to Lis about it since she gets it. I’m sure it's completely different talking to another recovering addict rather than me, someone who doesn’t even drink and has never used drugs.
Both of those choices are my own, but I’d be lying if I said my siblings didn’t play a part in it. Watching Sire and Lis fall into addiction at such a young age… changes the way I see things. They hid it very well for a while, but I found out eventually.
They’ve both been through so much, and watching them struggle to stay clean is the main reason I chose not to drink, and I’m certainly against all types of substances. It’s for them, but also because I genuinely don’t like alcohol or the way it makes me feel.
Sire tells me that V has still been struggling to sleep. “She just fell asleep a few hours ago, so I’m letting her rest.”
I nod in return as we settle in the kitchen. He glances over at Vidia before his gaze settles on me. “Is Helena still calling you?”
“Yup.”
He rolls his eyes as he sinks into his seat. “I know you already told Lis to drop it, but you should let her kick Helena's ass.”
I'm already shaking my head at him, knowing he's being serious. “She's not worth the energy, Sire.”
“Lis would love the excuse to let out some energy.” He puts his hands up in mock surrender when I give him a pointed look.
“Please tell her to back off,” I plead, and he simply nods.
“Hey.”
I turn at the sound of that quiet voice, and Vidia walks over to me with a smile. I rise from my seat and close the distance before hugging her.
“Did we wake you?” I kiss her cheek gently and squeeze her hand.
“No, you didn't,” she reassures me.
“Are you hungry?” Sire is already standing from his seat. “I can warm up some food for you.”
I smile over at my brother, and Vidia thanks him before taking his seat.
