Reuben’s gaze softens, and he pauses for a moment, his eyes flicking to my brothers as they rush around, talking about the party.
“You miss him, huh?” he asks, his voice quiet but knowing. “It’s okay to miss him, Ken. I know the two of you are close. But don’t feel bad. You’re not being selfish. You promised them, andI get it. But hey, if you want, I’ll tell him to text you. Just so you don’t feel so out of the loop.”
I can’t help but smile at that. Reuben’s always had my back, even when I don’t need to ask for it. “Thanks, Reuben. I’ll text him later. I just…” I trail off, biting my lip, my fingers twisting the hem of my sleeve. “It’s just different without him.”
He nods slowly. “Yeah, I get it. But you’ve got the girls tonight. And you’ve got to know he’ll be thinking of you too. Just because he’s at a party doesn’t mean he’s not missing you.”
I feel a little bit better after that. It’s not easy, but Reuben’s right. I just have to remember that Cole’s not going anywhere, and I’m not going anywhere either.
“Thanks, Reuben,” I say again, feeling a little more at ease. “You’re the best.”
“No problem,” he says with a wink. “Now, don’t forget about us tonight. We’re your family too.”
I laugh lightly as he heads for the door. “I won’t. Go have fun at the party.”
He gives me a thumbs-up before walking out. I take a deep breath and turn toward the living room, where the quiet stillness of the house greets me. It feels so different when it’s just me and the silence. I walk over to the couch, arrange the pillows, and lay out the blankets.
Then, I head for the kitchen and start setting out the flowers I picked. I find two vases, one for Millie’s camellias and one for Lucie’s daisies, and place them carefully on the coffee table. I step back, looking at the living room. It’s cozy, inviting. Everything is ready for a night of laughter and comfort.
Still, I catch myself checking my phone every few minutes. Nothing. No texts from Cole. No updates.
And something in me feels unsettled.
With everything set up, I go upstairs to my room to wait for Millie and Lucie. They won’t be home for a while, so I take a moment to clean my room, picking up clothes and putting things in their place. As I organize, I try to focus on something otherthan the gnawing emptiness in my chest. I pick up a notebook and start working on the homework assignment due on Monday. It’s supposed to be about a topic we studied in history class, but my mind keeps wandering. I can’t seem to focus on anything other than the thought of Cole.
I glance at my phone, waiting for a text from him, but it doesn’t come. I check the time. It’s still early. He’s probably having fun at the party. But the thought of him there with all those people, having fun without me, hits me harder than I expected.
I shove the homework aside, unable to concentrate. I walk back downstairs and check on the snacks I’ve laid out, making sure everything is ready for when my sisters come home. Then I head back to the couch and sit down. The house feels so empty without the sound of my sisters around. I let out a sigh, trying to shake off the loneliness, and stare at the TV for a while, letting the quiet wash over me.
The silence grows heavier. Thicker. Like it’s trying to tell me something.
Then finally, I hear car doors opening and shutting outside. My sisters are home.
When Millie and Lucie walk into the living room, their eyes widen with surprise.
“Kenna! What is all of this?” Lucie exclaims, her voice high with excitement.
I grin, feeling a little proud of what I’ve done. “I thought if we’re going to have a sister night, we should make it special. We deserve it, don’t we?”
Millie’s grin mirrors mine. “Wow. You really went all out.” She examines the snacks I laid out. “I can’t believe you did all this. What did you get us?”
I pull out the snacks and spread them across the coffee table. “A little bit of everything,” I say, watching their reactions. “We’ve got chips, cookies, chocolate—anything you want.”
We settle down on the floor, and everything feelsa little brighter. The night is ours, and even though a part of me is still missing Cole, it’s nice to have this time with my sisters.
We sit down on the floor, and the three of us dig into the food, savoring the snacks as we chat. Eventually, the topic turns to pizza, and I place the order for delivery. I know Millie and I will be happy with the same pizza—white pizza. But Lucie is the odd one out. She always orders cheese and pineapple, and every time, it sparks a debate.
“I’m telling you,” Lucie says, picking up a slice of her pizza, “pineapple on pizza is perfect. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory.”
Millie scrunches her nose. “It’s weird, Lucie. It’s like you’re eating dessert and dinner at the same time.”
I laugh, leaning back against the couch. “Can we please not turn this into a pizza debate? I just want to enjoy my slice without arguing about it.”
Lucie raises her eyebrows. “What? You’re not going to defend pineapple pizza? What kind of sister are you?”
I grin, shaking my head. “Not tonight. I’m staying neutral. Millie, you should really do something with your baking skills. You’re amazing at it. You should start a blog or something.”
Millie blushes at the compliment but shrugs it off. “Maybe one day,” she says with a smile.
