I park in front of our parents’ house. “This has nothing to do with you,” I say quietly. “Besides, it’ll be different this time.”
“I put my life on hold for years to support you. I’ll be damned if I stay around and watch you dismantle all your progress for a few weeks of sex from a girl who’s told you she doesn’t care enough about you to take the relationship seriously.” Seth hops out.
“Seth!”
He ignores me. Fucking asshole.
In the house, Mom envelops me in one of her cozy and familiar hugs. I feel like a kid again, although I have to prop my chin on top of her head now. She smells like home—a mix of herbs and the overpriced candles we always buy her for her birthday.
“You look well,” she says, pleased. “What’s got you looking so happy?”
“I like my new events role,” I say quickly. “The Candlelight Tour went well.”
Behind her, Seth rolls his eyes.
A frown creases her brow. “Seth and Emily said you and Sierra got locked in the cave overnight? Are you two okay?”
I launch into the story as Mom gestures for all five of her kids and her husband to settle at the kitchen table. It feels as it always does when we each drop into the same seats we’ve sat in since birth—warm and comforting in a way only my family can feel. It hits me that I’ve been spending so muchtime with Sierra that I’ve neglected the rest of my family. I’ve missed this—missed them.
I miss Sierra too. Not just her absence—I miss herhere.I can picture her at this table: teasing my brothers, playfully interrogating Dad about his cycling obsession, helping Emily keep everyone on task to keep passing dishes around before the food gets cold.
“How is she doing?” Mom asks. “I know I’ve told you before, but she’s welcome to come by anytime. I…I’d like to see her, Logan.”
It’s like a knife to the chest. “I’ll ask,” I say quietly.
It strikes me how open my family is. We know all each other’s secrets and have helped each other through every hard time. I don’t know how I would’ve survived Sierra’s disappearance without them. And here I am, lying to them.
“You’ve been working her too hard?” Dad asks.
“We’ve been busy,” I answer Dad, “but it’s been fine.”
“What will she have for dinner?” Mom frets. “I’ll pack some for you to take back to her. Cole, you don’t need two rolls—put one back. If you and Sierra need more free time, I’m sure you all can shift around priorities amongst yourselves.”
“We have quite a bit already,” I say. “Seth’s taking most of the cave tours now so I can focus on the Blackstone Legacy event.”
“I need the schedule to change again,” Seth says. “Logan needs to step up and take more of the tours. I’m tired of carrying his weight.”
“Do we really need to discuss business at family dinner?” Emily says, annoyed. “Can’t we discuss anything else?”
“I’m working two jobs now and bringing in a whole new revenue source,” I say to Seth, irritated. “Maybe if you actuallytook your job seriously, I wouldn’t have to pick up the slack.”
Emily jumps in, sounding irritated. “This is why I insist on our weekly business meetings. If you have concerns, this has to be brought up at—”
“You’re not taking your job seriously!” yells Seth. “I’ll agree that you’re busy, but not with that.”
“Say what you really want to say,” I dare him.You really want to air this out in front of Mom and Dad?
Seth doesn’t seem to understand my unspoken twin communication, or he ignores it completely. “Are you going to tell them, or should I?” Seth asks.
“Why do you keep doing this?” I snap. “Knock it off.”
“Because they have a right to know!”
“What is going on?” Cole interrupts, his bread roll frozen halfway to his mouth.
“He and Sierra are sleeping together,” Seth mutters as he stabs a piece of chicken with his fork.
The table goes silent.
