Lucky runs through my mind. She pretty much never brings up Rush, and come to think of it, Harper hasn’t even stood near Lawson at a single mixer. She’s back with Justin, so she’s all but persona non grata.
My entire body sizzles with heat at the prospect of Grant offering me more attention than I ever deserve as far as being a little sister is concerned, but something tells me his kindness toward me is because he truly does miss being a brother.
“He lost his sister. He’s all alone now, and he likes our—you know,bond.”
“Who likes your bond?” Owen booms from behind before plopping in the seat beside me.
“You.” I smirk before shaking my head just enough at Aubree. If she ever wants to see me again, she’d better keep those lips zipped.
“Darn right, I enjoy our bond.” Owen picks up my hand and lands a sweet kiss to the back of it. “So, what’s got you ditching me every chance you get? Piper says she hasn’t seen you once since the semester began.”
“Piper is—”
“Right,” Aubree cuts me off with a simple pump of her shoulders. “Ava here tells me both you and your little girlfriend are making her insane. You do realize she’s trying to have a life, right? Just because she’s chosen to carry the family tradition at Briggs doesn’t mean she needs the two of you joined to her hip.” She offers a quick wink my way. “In fact, I’d like to suggest something that might make both of you happy.”
“Doubtful, but proceed.” I give Owen’s hand a quick squeeze because I’m only partially teasing.
“Why don’t you have a scheduled time together? You know, Monday dinners, or drinks at the Black Bear Saturday afternoon—except no real drinks for you.” She nods my way. “That way, you know when to expect one another, and you can get some good quality time in without feeling like you’re cutting into one another’s social circles.”
“That’s brilliant!” I’m the first to confirm Aubree’s wicked genius. She always was a cut above everyone else when it comes to intuition. Unfortunately for her, she honed that gift into a pure horror. Nevertheless, Owen and I visit religiously and have for years. We show up every other weekend, and our parents fill in the remainder. At the end of the day, Aubree is family. It’s just that she’s sick, and she needs help. The only thing we can do is love her. I know if the shoe were on the other foot, and I were the one trapped behind these walls, I’d want the same thing.
“I agree.” Owen gives my hand a quick tug, and his eyes meet up with mine. “I don’t want to lose you.” There’s a sadness in him, a mourning as if somehow he’s already done just that. I recognize that deep level of grief just below the surface because it’s the same one Grant tries to hide from the world. It breaks me each and every time.
“Cheer up, would you?” I blink back tears of my own. “I’ll be happy to meet you for dinner. I’ll even let you buy.”
“Funny.” Owen blinks a smile. “And what about Piper? She’s dying to get to know you a little more. You seemed to get along better last year.”
“That’s because she wasn’t an official extension of your body last year.” It’s my turn to blink a smile. “But, yes, bring her. I sort of miss her. She’s totally cool, and beautiful, and, yes, you can tell her I said both of those things.”
“Good. And I agree with you on all points. She’s my family, and it’d mean everything for the two of you to accept her.”
“I love her.” Aubree is first with the affectionate declaration.
“Fine.” I don’t bother to extrapolate on my emotions.
“Speaking of family”—Aubree clears her throat—“Mom mentioned she and Dad were headed to the Bahamas for Thanksgiving.” Her entire person sags when she says it. Aubree has always been a holiday girl, and that’s exactly why Owen and I have made a point to drop in around each one. Aubree won’t allow us to see her on anyactualholiday. In fact, she’s taken them off her visitation list, so we’d be restricted even if we tried. She doesn’t want us to sacrifice our holidays just because she ruined hers, but by all means, she loves it when we visit a day or two ahead or after.
“Thanksgiving sucks anyway.” I don’t really mean it. Growing up, I actually got high off the scent of turkey permeating the house. My mother cooked a fifteen-course meal all by her lonesome while Aubree and I were in charge of the pies. Owen and my dad would watch football, and everyone was as happy as a helium balloon. We floated to the ceiling with our adulation, but then Aubree opened up the window in a jealous rage, and now it’s as if we’ve blown to the four corners of the Earth, each our own separate ways. I can’t begin to imagine what the holidays are like for the family of the poor soul Aubree murdered.
“I know. Mom mentioned it to me last week.” Owen sounds just as dejected as she does. “Piper actually invited me to New York.” He looks to me. “And you’re coming.”
“I’m not going to New York.” My insides churn at the thought of spending a holiday all on my own. “Harper invited me to dinner. I’ll be fine. Besides, I want to stay in Hollow Brook.” Harper hasn’t invited me anywhere for Thanksgiving, but I knew if I used Lucky for a cover he could easily fact check with Jet. But I’d rather eat a turkey burger at the Black Bear than fly to New York to have dinner with Piper’s family. And can that girl ever stop pawing my brother? The way they drool over each other nonstop would kill my appetite before the bird ever got out of the oven.
Owen glances to Aubree and shrugs. A moment of strangled silence thumps by, and he nods over to her.
“Oh! I almost forgot.” Aubree bounces in her seat as she turns fully to me. “Owen and I have a little surprise for you.”
“A birthday surprise,” Owen interjects.
“Newsflash”—a quick laugh bumps through me—“my birthday isn’t for another two months. I’m a December baby, remember?”
“We remember.” Owen’s affect irons out to something between joy and sorrow. “But it’s a big one. You’ll be eighteen, and we wanted to do something special for you.”
Aubree lifts a finger. “And I want you to do something special for me.”
“Bake you a cake with a knife in it?”
Aubree glances over at the guard in the corner and gives a tiny wave before leaning in. “No, you numbnut.” She pierces me with her stare, her entire heart pouring out of those two orbs. “Enjoy every second of your life.” Her eyes glaze with moisture. Of all the times I’ve visited my sister, she hasn’t shed a single tear. I know the weight of those words affected her. It seems the longer she’s in here, the more the gravity of it all rains down on her. “Live for me, too.”
