Chapter 6
Sibling for Sale
Holly
My heart thuds in my chest like a car that has sub woofers and a popping rap song on max volume. Alex sits casually in my living room on the love-seat across from where I'm nestled into my couch, a throw blanket on my lap. I wipe my palms on my Burberry sweatpants and try to get the words I need to say out of my dry mouth.
“So...” I can’t even get more than one word out.
Alex chuckles. “Spit it out, Holly. I haven’t seen you this nervous since you told me you wanted to move out and go to university.”
I clear my throat and try again. “I’m getting married to Mateo in two weeks.”
Alex stands up and walks toward the kitchen while running his hands through his hair. He stops, and I see his chest rise and fall a few times before he walks back to the couches.
He stares straight into my eyes and says two words:
“Absolutely not.”
Instantly my anxiety is vanquished by fiery indignation.
It’s a good thing there is a coffee table separating us because I want to jump up and strangle him. It’s probably the shock at his blatant rejectionof my statement that keeps me on the couch and not in the boxing ring.
He didn’t just say what I think he said… right?
It might be time to put my brother up for sale on Facebook marketplace.
“Come again?” I say. The ad is typing itself up in my mind the longer I stare at my older brother who didn’t even give me a chance to explain before shutting me down.
“You can’t marry Mateo.” Alex shrugs, as if he hasn’t just blown my plans for this conversation to smithereens with those four little words.
“What do you mean, I can’t marry him?” I’m not usually one to yell, but this is a yelling moment.
He holds his hands up, pleading innocence. “When you called saying you wanted to get married to get the media off your back and to get rid of the creepers, I thought your relationship would follow a normal timeline. I didn’t expect you to freak out and get married to my best friend in two weeks.” He shakes his head back and forth, his blond hair that matches mine falling into his eyes. “You can’t do it.”
The part about marrying his best friend is understandable to be upset about. But the second part has my blood boiling as my body temperature heats. He doesn’t even know how Mateo has already helped me. He doesn’t know about the call to the police the other night. This decision feels right and makes me feel safe. I’m not backing down. “Who are you to tell me who I can and cannot marry?”
Alex’s eyes twinkle as he folds his arms and smirks. “Your older brother who thinks this is an atrociously bad idea.”
I groan and throw myself back onto my pile of throw pillows, pulling the fuzzy blanket over my head so I resist screaming and pummeling my brother. I was nervous to tell Alex but I didn’t think I would get this angry over his objections.
“I can’t even look at you right now. You do not get to tell me who can’t be my husband,” I mumble.
Weight settles at the other end of the couch, and Alex’s hand lands onmy knee, giving it a gentle squeeze. I yank my leg out of his grasp.
He sighs. “I know finding good men around here is a struggle. But Mateo lives in Oregon. You live here in California. Why do you need to marry him, anyway?”
I’m not surprised Alex heard and understood my mumblings from where I’m buried in blankets and pillows. Then again, he practically raised me for the last few of my teenage years because our parents were narcissistic alcoholics who only cared about partying so they could show off Alex's money while drinking the night away, not about their children.
Alex saw the many meltdowns of teenage Holly, and the many throw pillows thrown in teenage rage and angst. I’ve been feeling more and more like a teenage Holly lately, mad at the world and insecure about my place in it. This conversation feels oddly triggering.
I peek out of my blanket and glare at Alex. He’s just sitting there, all relaxed, as if he hasn’t got me second-guessing everything I’ve planned with Mateo and triggering the anxiety I’ve worked so hard to control.
I point at him. “The distance is a problem we’re going to figure out together. But I know enough about Mateo, and more importantly, you know Mateo. You know he’s the best choice for a husband. He’s the best single guy we both know. Plus, he’s going to respect my boundaries. So, you’re going to have to get over it.” I fold my arms, determined to stay angry, though just thinking about Mateo has my rage softening.
Alex arches an eyebrow at me. “How would a marriage to Mateo even work? Please tell me it isn’t going to be arealone?” He shudders.
“It’s none of your business, brother dearest. But for your information, the paperwork will be real. In reality, he’ll be my platonic roommate, occasional date, and husband in name only.”
