Gavin’s right to call me out. I wouldn’t know that about his habits, not firsthand. I learn about my family the way everyone else does: Google. Last weekForbesmagazine put out its annual Who’s Who list. This year they did a roundup of the top twenty under twenty, which included Gavin. And I’m pretty sure he specifically mentioned he doesn’t have time for hobbies, calling thema waste of time.
“I would have read about it somewhere if you did.” I pull out my phone to look up the article, then remember I’m not allowed to use it. I groan.
“Just because it isn’t mentioned on Page Six doesn’t mean it ceases to exist,” he says. “Not everyone has to alert the press of every little thing they do.”
“I don’t alert the press ofeverythingI do,” I counter. “Sometimes they just show up without my knowledge.” I sigh. The good ol’ days. “And that’s beside the point. Why is everyone in this family suddenly interested in farming?” Call it paranoia, but I’m starting to feel like they’re all in on some secret mission that I’m on the outside of.
“Elena, I know this is a difficult concept for you to understand, but not everything is about you.” He waves the bunch of limp chives at me, then continues walking. “I’m only now learning about Mom and Dad’s interest in farming, same as you.”
“If that’s the case, then aren’t you curious as to why Mom and Dad never mentioned they had property in Blaire or that they grew up on a farm?”
“In my opinion, it’s better not to ask too many questions. Especially ones you don’t want to know the answers to,” he says, brushing me off. “Just follow their lead; it’ll keep you out of trouble. You should try it sometime.”
“That’s the problem, Gavin. I am following Dad’s lead. I’m being smart and steadily building my brand. But how can I get him toacknowledge me if he doesn’t take anything I do seriously?”
His head jerks back, a little too dramatically if you ask me. “You want to be taken seriously?”
“I’m sorry, are you gaslighting me?” I spit back at him. “In case you haven’t been paying attention, Gavin, I’m quite business-savvy.”
A ridiculous sound escapes Gavin’s lips. “What experience in business have you had?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” I blanch. “I’m in the business of people. Why do you think people pay for me to attend their parties?”
He snickers.
I glare at him. “My point is, if you know as much about farming as I do, then why didn’t Mom and Dad askmeto prune the herb garden? I mean, if you can do it, how hard can it be?” Leave it to my family to make me feel FOMO over something I can’t even fake caring about.
“Since when have you been interested in what the family does?” Gavin glances at me sideways.
I wish I could take it as cavalierly as he meant it, but he struck a nerve. I want to tell him he has it wrong. It’s the other way around. I’ve always been interested in the family. It’s the three of them who haven’t shown any interest in me. The resentment builds and builds until a defensive rage bubbles in me, preventing me from saying all those things.
“I’m not interested,” I say instead. “I was just wondering when you had time for all these hobbies when you’re the one who’s been on the fast track to getting a business degree at USC so you can take over the family business.”
NowImust have struck a nerve, because Gavin stops on the front stoop of our house. Instead of pushing the door open, he spins on his heels to face me. “Elena,” he says, “when are you going to getit through your plastic head that you aren’t as perceptive when it comes to people as you think you are?”
His caustic tone catches me off guard, so I respond with the first thing that comes to mind. “I don’t know, Gavin. Maybe when you finally accept that you shouldn’t wear clothes that accentuate your worst features?” I gesture to his stature of disproportion.
“Face it, Elena,” he says, ignoring my comment. “There’s a lot about me you don’t know.” But despite his bold claim, he predictably takes the corded phone with him into Mom and Dad’s room to call Sonya, who I’m willing to bet is not just his girlfriend but his only friend. I don’t feel the least bit sorry for him. With a personality like his, I’d say he deserves it.
While he’s in the room, I take the towel off my head and brush my damp hair. I’m about to style it when I discover something disturbing. The walls, just like the rest of the house, are shoddy, and no matter which room I’m in, I can hear Gavin talking to Sonya.Blech.Their conversation is so polite and lacks spark, it’s nauseating. Thinking quickly, I grab my phone. Mom said I’m not allowed to turn on cellular or Wi-Fi, but she didn’t say anything about music. I tap on my phone to find my playlist and put my AirPods in so I don’t disturb the Quiet Zone. Seconds later the electronic beat of my playlist drowns out the background noise. Sweet relief.
With the threat of overhearing Gavin’s conversation with Sonya out of the way, I decide to unpack. Or at least I try to. Without drawers or hangers in the closet, there’s no place to put my things, and I end up leaving everything in the bag. Next to my bag I discover Gavin’s essential items by accident. And by accident, I mean I maybe, sort of riffled through his belongings. (How else am I supposed to pass the time without my friends or a phone?)
Gavin’s essential items:
A handful of business attire
A picture of Sonya
