I take in a deep breath. “Thanks for coming, Drew.”
“Of course. We wouldn’t miss it.”
Drew and I weren’t always this close. With our six-year age difference, the years we spent under the same roof consisted of him being my brother in the traditional sense. He was protective—and a nuisance—the way you would expect a big brother to be, but it wasn’t until we were grown that we developed the bond we have now.
I take a seat on the couch, fingers fussing with the hem of my shirt. Drew transfers myLittle Womencollection to the box at his feet, his features looking more and more like Dad every day.
It’s not jealousy, but it’s something akin to it that I can’t quite identify. I swallow past it, same as I’ve always done.
“Everything okay?” he asks.
His question tugs my attention back to the moment. “Huh? Oh yeah, fine.”
He stares at me, unconvinced, before turning back to the shelf. My gaze shifts to the window and I settle my thumbnail between my teeth.
The couch shifts beside me. Drew gently lowers my hand from my face as he says, “What’s up, Gretch?” At my bewildered look, he adds, “You chew your nails when you’re nervous.”
I glance down at my thumb, evidence on full display where mynail has been bitten to the quick. “Right,” I breathe. I tuck a leg underneath me and turn to face him. “I wanted to ask you something.”
“Okay.”
Now or never.“My friend and I planned a trip for the end of next month out to Sedona. Kind of a graduation slash birthday thing.”
There is no friend. Also, the trip has nothing to do with my birthday or graduation, but I’m looking for the path of least resistance here.
I soldier on. “Anyway, something’s come up and now she can’t go.”Lie.“The resort and my plane ticket are non-refundable.”Truth.“And I don’t wanna go by myself.”Also truth. “So, I was wondering if you’d like to go with me?”
He doesn’t seem appalled by the idea, but he does hesitate.
“The resort’s already paid for,” I rush to add. “It’s a one-bedroom suite but there’s a sofa bed. My friend felt really bad about cancelling so she’s not asking for her money back or anything.”Another lie.Fictitious friends can’t ask for their fictitious money back. “You’d only have to buy a plane ticket.”
Ayesis all I need for now. I’ll explain everything else when we get there.
“It sounds fun, but I don’t know if I can swing?—”
“You should go,” Reagan interrupts as she plops down next to Drew. I forget how small this apartment is.
He narrows his eyes at her. “I should?”
“Yeah! You’ve got all that unused vacation time and you can use our credit card miles for the flight.”
Damn.It didn’t even cross my mind, but maybe I need to invite Reagan too.
The truth is, the person I always imagined doing this with hasn’t spoken to me in almost three years. Drew is my next best option. I adore my sister-in-law, but I’m anxious enough as it is without becoming the third wheel.
Reagan ignores her husband’s reservations and asks, “What are the dates?”
This is why she graduated from Law School at the top of herclass—yes, even ahead of her husband. She’s got the badass woman energy of Joan fromMad Men. Quiet confidence when the situation warrants it, but calls the shots and gets stuff done when nobody else will. The curvy figure, fair skin and strawberry blonde bob easily land her in the category of doppelgänger.
Basically, Reagan is the antithesis of me. Nothing about my appearance seems to make guys’ heads turn the way Reagan’s does. I mean, sure, I want guys to see beyond what I look like,blah blah blah.He should be interested in my personality above my appearance,yada yada yada.But somehow,“Your personality is so hot! Can I ravish you inside this maintenance closet?”doesn’t have the same ring to it.
“Last week of June. Wednesday through Monday,” I answer.
She turns to Drew and I sit witness to a wordless conversation whereby thoughts are communicated through some sort of marital eyeball trickery.
Drew:I don’t think this is a great idea.
Reagan:Stop being a dick and take your sister to Sedona for her birthday.
