“Come sit down.” I led her to a kitchen chair and went to go wash my hands in the kitchen sink before starting a kettle for tea.
“All those times I ditched you,” she blurted out. “I didn’t realize what it felt like to be on the other side of that.”
I paused in the middle of filling the kettle.
“Does this have something to do with Julian?” I guessed.
“He’s been so busy with that album release and all the work that comes with promoting it, there’s all this media attention surrounding him, and then getting ready for that tour. I think all that promoting and all those PR events are getting to him. Even when we’re together, he’s not all there. Having to do interviews and go on TV and radio, having talk to so many people… That’s really not his thing, you know? It drains him.”
I knew Julian well enough to know that was true. He much preferred being in the background. It was different with people like Cerise and Seth, who practically glowed under that kind of attention, like they were made for the spotlight. For an introvert like Julian, I could imagine all that promoting would feel like torture.
“Cerise asked him to help her work on re-arranging some of their older songs,” she said. “They’re much better musicians now. They’ve grown a lot over the last few years, so she wants to take their old stuff and bring it up to their current standards. He’s been killing himself over that.” She exhaled through her nose. “It just feels like I barely get to spend any time with him. I know it sounds stupid and selfish, but I’ve been feeling…”
Everly trailed off, casting her eyes down.
I knew exactly what she was feeling, because I’d felt it for years.
It was hard enough trying to find time to spend with Seth when we were still in a new relationship. But Julian and Everly were engaged. They were trying to plan a wedding. They were getting ready to spend the rest of their lives together.
And now she was feeling just as neglected as I had felt growing up.
“I know I shouldn’t be so upset over it. If anyone can understand, it should be me. But it doesn’t make me feel any better. So, I’m sorry.” Everly sniffled once, then straightened her back, seeming to gather herself together. “I was always the one abandoning you. I can’t imagine how much it must have hurt.”
I forgot about the tea and gave her hug.
“I forgive you,” I said.
“Thank you, even though I don’t deserve it.” She rubbed at her red, tired eyes. “Julian is home tonight but I was having all these thoughts and I didn’t want to unload on him.”
“I think you should,” I replied. “You should tell him what you’re feeling. It's important to be honest with him.”
Her lips twisted. “You’re probably right.”
“I’m definitely right,” I said. “You should go home to him and talk.”
My sister stood from the kitchen table with a weary nod. “I’m not going to let this fester. We can talk it through. I’m sure it will make me feel better.” She gave me one last hug. “I’m just glad I’m not putting you through that, anymore. It would kill me to see you hurt.”
A twinge of worry hit my chest.
Everly grabbed her bag and I waved her out with an encouraging smile, watching as she closed the door behind her.
As soon as the door swung shut, my smile fell.
“Is it safe to come out?” Seth asked in a quiet, muffled voice.
I opened the door to the bedroom.
“Was she upset?” he asked. “I couldn’t hear very well.”
“She’ll be fine,” I said. “She just needed some sister-talk.”
Seth pulled me into his arms and pressed a kiss to my lips.
“Are you up for another round?” he asked with a sly smile.
“I’m actually feeling pretty tired.” It wasn’t a lie. “Can we just go to sleep?”
Seth looked at me, concerned, but nodded.
“Of course,” he said.
I left his arms to start getting ready for bed.
I hated that Everly was upset, but I knew she and Julian would be able to work it out.
But there was something else that worried me.
Everly was going to bepissedif she thought Seth was putting me through the same thing she had.
