“I thought I said I was coming to pick you up.” I reach forward and grab my cell phone off the coffee table. Noticing a text from my dad letting me know he is taking Claire to the movies, I set it down and lean back.
Neve lazily turns her head to look at me with a raised brow. “Let’s not get bogged down by the details. The idea behind my sudden arrival is brunch and mimosas, so I think we should get going.”
“Can’t say it’s the worst idea.” Blue’s voice draws my attention, and I look over the back of the couch to see her leaning against the wall and a soft chuckle escapes me. Her naturally thick, curly brown hair is a mess, her makeup from last night smeared under her eyes. “Mimosas are exactly what I need right now.”
“Little hungover, are we?” Neve teases, her right arm resting over the back of the couch as she looks at my best friend.
Blue narrows her eyes at my younger sister, putting a hand to her forehead. “Sometimes drinking is the only solution when your relationship goes to shit.”
“And yet Mar looks all right.” My head whips in her direction. “What? He hasn’t been around for god knows how long and you haven’t talked about him in what, three weeks now? Last dad and I knew, you took him to that big match event of yours.”
“Leave her alone, Neve.” Blue is rattling around in the kitchen, grabbing the pot of coffee I made this morning and pours herself a cup. “She’ll talk about it when she’s ready. In the meantime, I’m taking this coffee with me and taking a shower. Will you girls wait around so I can come with you? I’m starved.”
Neve groans, dramatically falling across the couch and landing with her head in my lap. I roll my eyes, ignoring her dramatics as I say, “We’ll wait, go shower. Feel free to raid my closet. You know where the spare towels are.”
With that, Blue disappears down the hallway and I hear the bathroom door close not shortly after. I push Neve off me and get up off the couch, sauntering into the kitchen with my now empty mug and rinse it out. When I turn around, Neve is resting against the island, studying me.
“What?” I cross my arms over my chest.
“I know you’ll always see me as your little sister,” Neve says with an underlying tone to her voice that I can’t quite decipher. “But you can talk to me, you know.”
I sigh, resting my hands on the marble countertop. “I’m sorry, Neve. I’ve just been a little distracted lately, that’s all. But I need you to know that everything is okay, all right? Claire and I are okay.”
“You’re worrying me,” she replies softly, a look of concern covering features that are very similar to my own.
“Travis is at Tallgrass Treatment Center.” Better to rip the bandaid off, right? Her blue eyes widen in surprise before a lookof sympathy appears, causing me to shake my head. “Don’t. The last thing I need is sympathy, Neve. As much as I hate to admit it, this isn’t the first time. Nor is it the second, third or fourth.”
Neve sighs, taking a moment to collect herself. She walks around the island and approaches me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. We hug for a moment, something in my gut telling me she needs this more than I do. When she pulls back, she lets her hands linger on my shoulders.
“I’m sorry, Mar. I didn’t realize it was that bad. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you.” I give her a small smile. “I’m the older sister, though. It’s supposed to be me taking care of you.”
Neve chuckles, shaking her head with a roll of her eyes. “Nonsense. That shit may have flown when we were little, but this is some grown up shit now.”
“I don’t know what that means, but I’ll take it as a good thing.” I laugh, taking a step backwards and heading back into the living room.
Neve follows behind me, falling into the saucer chair I have beside the television stand while I reposition myself on the couch. I am about to turn on the TV when I notice Neve staring at me. I stop the sigh from escaping as I lean back, folding my legs underneath me as I study my sister.
“Go ahead and ask, Neve.”
“It’s just—” she releases an irritated sigh. “How long have you been dealing with this? I mean, we all knew he was drinking, but not that he was using.”
I hesitate, trying to decide if the truth or the lie was worse. “Well, he started using after Claire was born. He didn’t go to rehab for the first time until Claire was about three.”
“Jesus,” Neve breathes, leaning back with her arms crossed. “Are you fucking kidding me? Why didn’t you say anything?” I open my mouth to respond, but she shakes her head. “Nope, I’mbeing supportive. Bolstering. First off, I’m sorry. Second, need me to kill him for you? I know a guy.”
I can’t help the laugh that tears out of me, escaping from somewhere deep inside me. Neve laughs, too, both of us in a fit of giggles. Once we finally calm down, Neve looks at me with anI’m not kiddingexpression on her face.
“Thank you, Neve, but I have it under control. It’s been a few weeks since he’s been in there and it’s the longest he has ever stayed. That has to count for something.”
“Just please don’t get your hopes up like you have in the past.” She leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “That’ll only crush Claire. She feeds off your energy, you know. Takes after her mother, that one.”
A small, sad smile comes to my face. “I know. I had a moment a few days ago of allowing myself to be hopeful, but I know better.”
“Where does Claire think he is right now?”
“Business trip,” I reply. “There was a time when he was gone for two and a half months, and she believed it then. Figured she’d buy it now. She’s too young to know what’s really going on, you know?”
