I’m only offering to reschedule because I’m at a loss for how to reject her. If it weren’t for Everett, I never would have agreed to go out in the first place. I would never say it to her face, but it’s not her—it’s me. It’s a cliché. No one wants to hear that, even when it’s true. I work too much, and that won’t change any time soon. Joy deserves better than my excuses.
Chapter Two
EVIE
“What are you doing here?” I reach for my suitcase on the baggage carousel, but Everett grabs it before I can.
“What do youthinkI’m doing here?”
He rolls the suitcase outside, and I follow behind.
Forget that I’m over a decade younger than my oldest brother. That’s not what separates us. It’s that I’m still living near our hometown while the rest of my siblings are scattered around the country.
We grew up in the Midwest, and I’m still there—or I was before I hopped on a plane. I’ve been working and studying in Ohio, a few hours away from our hometown. Everett, my oldest brother, is practically on the other side of the country. He lives in sunny San Diego, and… well, that’s where I am now, with him.
I considered staying with my other brother in New York, but he’s married. I could have gone to myyoungestolder brother, but he’s up in Canada. My last brother is in Washington, practically as far away as Everett, and…
Staying with Everett is the right choice for a few reasons. I could use a little sunshine right about now.
By the time I was born, my parents had run out of names. They recycled my oldest brother’s name as if we were twins rather than being fifteen years apart. In a way, I think sharing a name made us closer. He’s always been protective of me, and that never changed.
Our other brothers would question and lecture me about my irresponsibility, but I know Everett won’t. He’s even generous enough to pick me up from the airport, which is always unpleasant.
“I told you that you don’t have to pick me up.” I start to roll my suitcase out of the airport, but he reaches for the handle, wordlessly taking it from me.
“Too late.”
“Airport traffic is always impossible! I could have taken an Uber. I would have even letyouorder it for me if it made you feel better.”
He scoffs. “It’s not like we’re at LAX.”
“Thank God for that.”
The San Diego International Airport is a small step up from the chaos of LAX—then again, most places are. I was happy to avoid flying there; it works for both of us. My brother didn’t have to drive as far to pick me up, but he shouldn’t have come at all. He’s already doing too much for me.
Everett and I have the same light hair and blue eyes, but he stole all of our father’s height. In our family home, if you look at the faded pencil marks that charted our childhood growth, there’s evidence of his growth spurt continuing long past mine.
Evie, 16—4’11
Everett, 16—6’0
And he kept growing. I didn’t.
On the other hand, I take after my mother, an average five-foot blonde with too much attitude.
Not only did he have the audacity to steal all the height in our family, but he stole whatever gene creates success. I’m still stuck in the Midwest, and he’s a recently retired professional surfer living in a gorgeous city.
I’ll catch up to him eventually… or maybe I’ll be stuck sleeping on his couch forever.
It’s a lovely couch, as far as I can remember. I haven’t had time to visit him in a few years.
Everett takes me to his new beachside home in La Jolla. It’s not as messy as most single forty-something-year-old men’s would be, and it’s suspiciously well-decorated. The soft blue colors match the beachside feeling; he even has a beach-themed welcome mat.
Whalecum, with a blue whale underneath it. Very classy.
The last time I visited, he lived in an expensive apartment, but it was unlivable. He left his wetsuit hanging on the balcony, countless dishes in the sink, and his dirty bong was out for everyone to see. The bong is still there, but it’s cleaner than I remember. I guess some things never change.
In the corner of his living room sits a massive amethyst cluster. I run my finger across the pointed, purple stones. It must have cost hundreds of dollars—maybe thousands. “Looks like business is going well?”
