Anxiety crawls up my spine. I’ve been dodging text messages all day from my sister. Whitney wants to know how Drake is since he hasn’t answered any of her calls for the past two days.
It’s not my place to tell her that he’s in Ireland celebrating his nuptials.
I fish in my bag for my phone and glance at the screen.
My heart rate kicks up.
For the first time today, the incoming text isn’t from Whitney. It’s from my other sibling.
Drake: Hey Em! You’re in NYC? WTF? We need to talk. Are you free in 10 minutes?
Part of me wants to ignore his text.
It’s well after midnight in Ireland. He might go to sleep soon, which means I could push back this conversation until tomorrow. That would give me time to calm down so I don’t say anything I’ll regret to my brother.
He chose to get married without telling me. He must have had his reasons, so I need to hear him out.
I will hear him out. Tonight.
I shoot him back a quick message.
Emma: I’m free.
Clutching my phone in my palm, I open the door to find Case and Gavin standing at the entrance to the hallway.
“Are you ready?” Gavin asks with a smile.
The dimples must be a family trait. He’s just as good-looking as his cousin, but I don’t feel something deep inside of me light up when I look at Gavin.
It’s there the moment my gaze shifts to Case.
“My plans have changed.” I glance down at my phone. “I’m expecting an important call. I don’t want to miss it.”
“Maybe another time?”
I look up when Gavin asks the question. “Maybe.”
“We’ll get out of here and give you some privacy, Emma.” Case turns to his cousin. “Let’s go.”
Gavin stays in place even though Case has started walking to the door. “It was good to meet you, Emma. I’m sure I’ll see you around again.”
I offer him a grin in response before I head back into the guestroom, shutting the door behind me.
“Are you good, Em?”
It’s how my brother starts every conversation we have. I almost always respond in the same way; I lay out everything that’s wrong in my life and then wait for him to offer advice for me to fix things.
I don’t travel that route tonight because this conversation isn’t about what’s going on with me. It’s about the major life decision that Drake has made.
“I’m fine,” I answer.
I sit on the edge of the bed. My hands are trembling. Since I heard the apartment door shut behind Case and Gavin, I put the call on speaker.
“How are you?” I ask him, hoping that it will lead to a confession.
“Happier than I’ve ever been.” His voice is joyful. I can hear the emotion in every word. “I’m so fucking happy right now.”
Tears form in my eyes.
