I slipped onto the bed opposite her and crossed my legs, facing my sister. “Yeah. I am happy. But I’m also kind of freaked out. It feels like this is a big deal. A family party? That’s like, dating-for-six-months level shit.”
Sarah nodded. “Yeah, it’s a big deal. And it feels like that means something.”
I shrugged, not sure what to say. Did Iwantit to mean something? And if so, what exactly did I want it to mean?
As if in response to my thoughts, Sarah asked, “Are you going to get rid of your guardrails and be brave for a change?”
“Why would you say…who…” I sputtered. “Explain.”
“All I’m saying is that you shouldn’t overthink what you and Harrison are doing together. Accept that you’re taking a risk. Acknowledge the happiness you’re feeling. Let your heart lead you,” Sarah ticked off the suggestions on her fingers.
“I can…try?” I said. Honestly, putting myself out there and just hoping for the best sounded incredibly risky—and I’d never been one to chase after risks.
Sarah pounded me with the pillow again, and I managed to steal it away from her. “Oh come on! You’re acting like you’re getting ready for a shift in the coal mine. This is supposed to be fun!”
“Says the woman who hasn’t said yes to a date inhowlong?” I gripped the pillow menacingly.
She held up her hands in surrender. “Good point, but I’ve already told you that I’m in my work era. My two-year plan is all mapped out, and there’s no chance I’m letting myself get derailed by a relationship.” She paused. “But I do have to admit that our park ranger liaison in the Everglades just happens to be very handsome. Not that it matters.”
“No, of course not,” I teased. “Your hierarchy of needs for this trip goes like this: harvesting algae, staring into a microscope, fighting off insects, avoiding alligators, taking notes, and ignoring how horny you are for Mr. Smokey Bear.”
I whipped the pillow at her just to underscore my point, but she snagged it out of the air before it could hit her.
“Stop, I’m actually being serious. Yeah, you’ve been burned before, mixing business with pleasure, I get it. But this feels different,” she said reverting to her big-sister tone.
“You’re not getting your head turned around by a TV star who isn’t being honest with you, and you’re not getting dragged into something toxic by a guy who knew he could only measure up to you if he kept dragging you down. What you’ve got right now looks like a real, grown-up relationship, and it’sworking.At least from my perspective. You’re happy, Gwen. And what’s amazing is it’s notallbecause of him. It’s like you’re in this…”
“Snow globe of joy?” I offered.
Sarah snorted at me. “Scarlet lyric to the rescue. But yeah, you could call it that. You’re fulfilled by your work, you’ve got something amazing cooking up with bossman, you’re just…happy. And I love that for you.”
Sarah’s blessing made me lean into everything I’d been trying to ignore. Yeah, I was feeling good about my life right now. And with the trip on the horizon, it was only going to get better…wasn’t it?
“Okay, counterpoint,” I blurted out. “What if I fuck everything up? This is hisfamily, Sarah. His friggin’ super rich, probably incredibly judgey family. And he told me they’re not the closest, so it’s going to be tense.”
“Tense forhim. Which is where you come in,” Sarah said. “You can be his safe space when the family politics get too crazy.”
Having that kind of responsibility should have sounded intimidating…but actually, it made me feel a little better. Stepping into chaos and pulling things together was my jam. I might not know how to pull off being a happy woman in a healthy relationship, but I could rock the hell out of managing a shitstorm.
“Just keep being brave,” Sarah continued. “I know you have it in you. Surrender to what you’re feeling for a change. Don’t let those assholes from your past make you doubt what’s going on between you and Harrison.”
“You’re right,” I said.
“Of course I’m right. I’m your big sister, and you have to listen to what I say.”
We both cracked up because it was her old refrain from when we were kids. Sarah had always been bossy.
“Now get back in the closet,” she joked. “I’ve been holding out on you. I definitely have stuff that works for the weekend.”
I pretended to be shocked. “I’m sorry, is my buttoned-up scientist sister a…secretclothing hoarder?”
“You be the judge. Push those lab coats over and see what you can find.”
Sure enough, tucked behind the staid white uniforms, I discovered an explosion of color.
“Ta-da,” Sarah winked at me. “Get in there.”
And with that, my big sister achieved fairy godmother status.
