Brent: If you want to I’ll get you a plane ticket.
Brynn: I’d really like it if you could come visit for Christmas. It would be nice to see you.
I groan, staring at the screen. I reply to Brent first.
Bailey: I can buy my own plane ticket.
I know he’s always wanted to take care of all of us. He’s a rich and famous athlete now, but I’m an adult and I don’t need him taking care of me.
Brent: But will you?
I hesitate again because I don’t know if I will, and that’s the whole problem.
Switching over to the other text thread with my sister, I debate what to say to her. I hate disappointing her all the time. It’s not fair, and maybe I should go just this once. Maybe it would be okay.
Bailey: It would be nice to see you, too. Is Bryson going?
Brynn responds right away, which isn’t surprising.
Brynn: No, I doubt it. But you should, and you could meet everyone.
Everyonehas my heart rate kicking up in my chest because it’s not just Brent and Brynn anymore. They have families of their own now and I’ll just be by myself.
Christmas is in a week, so I know I need to make a decision sooner rather than later and plane tickets are going to be outrageously expensive.
The craziest part is how seriously I’m actually considering this.
Bailey: I’ll think about it.
Brynn: That’s Bailey talk for “no.”
Bailey: It’s Bailey talk for “I’ll think about it.”
Brynn: I hope you mean it this time.
Her comment hits me right in the chest, and before I can think about it too much I’m pulling up flights toDenver. They’re insane, but I know if I try to use that as an excuse, Brent will just pay for it.
So I painfully buy the plane ticket and hope I’m not making a huge mistake in going to see my siblings.
A coupleof days later I’m dropping Sadie off at Sutton’s house and feeling extremely conflicted. Especially when Sutton asks me how I’m feeling about the trip.
“Are you excited to see your siblings again?”
“I guess, sort of.” I pet behind Sadie’s ears, her favorite spot.
“You don’t sound like it.”
“Because I’m nervous. I haven’t seen them inyears.”
“You sure you don’t want to bring Sadie with you? She might help.”
“I thought about it, but a twenty hour drive sounds awful.”
Sutton nods. “You’re right, that does sound awful. That’s about what I did when I moved here. Never again.”
“Exactly. We’ll see if I actually get on the plane in the morning.” I make a sad attempt at a joke.
“Do you need a ride or anything else?”
