My heart hammered as I unzipped my huge suitcase and started throwing things inside, organization be damned. Pajamas, sneakers, bras, rain jacket…
I heard a knock on the door while I quickly balled up my socks. It was Erica, holding my two glittery cosmetic cases fromthe bathroom. “Light packer” would never be on my résumé. “I’m pretty sure I grabbed everything.” She offered them to me. “If any nail polish is missing, Maisie probably has it.”
“Well, at least it’s safe,” I said. “Thank you.”
Erica folded her arms across her chest. I wanted to return to my turbo-packing, but she clearly had something to say.
And I didn’t need to prompt her.
“You shouldn’t feel obligated to go,” she said gently. “Your dad can handle this.”
I tried to keep my cool. “I don’t feel obligated,” I said. “I want—needto go. This is Annie.”
“I know.” Erica nodded. “I understand, but this trip has been so wonderful for you, Olivia. Do you really want to give up your last week of vacation to sit in the hospital?”
It felt like she’d slapped me in the face.
My cheeks certainly burned like she had.
“It’s only her arm—”
“Are you serious?” I cut her off. “Are youseriouslysuggesting that I blow off Annie—who is hurt and sick and so alone—to continue running around this island?”
“No.” Erica shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right.”
I didn’t care.
“I get it,” I said, gritting my teeth. “I’ve been paying attention these last couple weeks. You aren’t close to your parents—you can’t even decorate a scrapbook!—so it’s impossible for you tograsp why I am the way I am with Annie.” I laughed hollowly. “But just this once, I wish you wouldtryto understand!”
Pulse pounding, I waited for Erica’s rebuttal, but it came in the form of a step backward, like I’d shoved her. “Please say goodbye to your brother and sister before you go,” was all she said, then she turned and disappeared into the hall.
“Don’t worry, I’m hurrying,” I said when I heard resolute footsteps a few seconds later. Definitely my dad, eager to get on the road.
But it was Connor who appeared in the doorway. My heart dropped like an elevator.
Were you even going to say goodbye?I expected him to say, because in the time it had taken me to return to the tent to track down my phone and then run into Erica, he’d woken up and volunteered to run to Morning Glory Farm with Wit for a desperately needed loaf of zucchini bread. I hadn’t waited for him to come back, instead asking Meredith to give him a hug for me and tell him I’d call him.
Surprisingly, Connor mentioned nothing about my flimsy farewell. “Why are you so hard on her?” he asked.
My eyebrows knitted together. “Excuse me?”
“Erica,” he said. “I heard you two from the stairs.”
Perfect, I thought, stomach swishing.I bet others did too.
“Olivia, why are you so rough on her?”
“Because she’s being ridiculous!” I sputtered.
He neither agreed nor disagreed. “You didn’t need to yell ather. She’s just looking out for you.” He gave me a lopsided smile. “She loves you.”
My heart twinged. I knew Erica loved me, she was sort of obligated to, but did shelikeme? I felt like she was critical of everything I did.
Because she wants what’s best for you, a voice in my head said.She might not be warm and cuddly, but neither are you. You never have been.
For fuck’s sake, I’d put glue in her shampoo!
Connor coughed. “And if you really think about it, she might be right,” he gently ventured. “Your dad is Annie’s emergency contact, and maybe it’s better if you give him some space to handle—” He dropped off, likely because of the expression on my face. It wasn’t an angry glare, but my eyes widened. He didn’t support me?
