Ellie:
I still don’t see how that’s a ME problem.
Travis:
Ugh, fine. How about we go together? You know there’s something you need.
“When I agreed to this,I didn’t know you were bringing a whole list,” Ellie gripes as I check things off my phone.
“When I told the guys where I was going, they started yelling shit at me. Tanner needs glasses cleaner, where the hell is that?”
Ellie searches the store and leads me to aisle after aisle. She’s never been in this Target, yet she seems to know her way around pretty easily. “Anything else?”
“Uh.” I check my list for the tenth time. “A pack of pens for Penn.” I snort, the irony just hitting me.
“Any specific kind?”
“How should I know? It just says ‘good pens.’”
“Well, he’s a writer. He should have a favorite brand. You don’t know?” she asks, scanning the section of writing utensils in front of us.
“I’ll call him.”
When the call goes straight to voicemail, I shrug, reaching for the cheapest multi-pack. Ellie snatches it from my hand and puts it back on the hanger. “Not those.”
“Why not?”
“Those are junk. Hang on.” She pulls out her phone and starts FaceTiming someone. I lean over, watching, and Olivia’s face pops on the screen a minute later. “Hey, babe, what kind of pens does Penn use?”
I laugh again. How did I not pick up on that sooner?
“He’s not picky.”
Ellie’s face scrunches in an adorable way I’ve never seen before. “Really? He writes songs for a living, and he’s not picky about what he uses?”
“Nope. I bought him a Mont Blanc, and he refused to use it. Said it was too expensive, so he keeps it on display instead.”
“That’s just…well, actually no, it’s not surprising. Then you tell us which ones to get.” Ellie flips the camera so Liv can see the selection.
“Oh, right there. The Uniball ones.”
Ellie grabs a basic-looking three-pack of silver pens and tosses them in the basket. “Thanks, babe, talk later! Love you.” She puckers her lips and pretends to kiss the screen.
“Love you too! Bye, Travis!”
I wave before Ellie ends the call and drops the phone in her bag.
“Who do you think she loves more, you or Penn?”
She gasps. “Don’t ask me things like that!
“I’m just wondering where I rank now—for Penn,” I say, heading toward the hair products to get the only thingIneed. “Obviously, Liv comes first for him, but I think I’m right after that. But before Liv, I was his top spot—after his family, of course. Though I really should come before Liv because we’re basically brothers.”
She shakes her head, giggling. “I think Penn loves you, but not the same way he loves Liv, and it’s the same for Liv and me. Wearefamily, but…” she sighs, “Penn is undoubtedly her favorite now. I’d never make her choose. I love her too much.”
“Well, that’s bullshit. I’ve known him almost his entire life, and she just shows up and gets first dibs on everything.” I’m teasing mostly.
Ellie reaches for the gel she knows I like and adds it to our pile before I even have the chance. “One day, someone will come along and take Penn’s place in your heart, too, Travy, don’t worry.”
