Page 3 of Freefall

“What happened? Where are you?”

“Whoa. Calm down, Batman.” She lets out a small laugh. “I’m not in any physical danger. Jeez. I forgot who I was calling.”

I sigh, only for my relief to turn to irritation. “Then why are you calling me in a panic?”

“Because Rowan has a cold and⁠—”

“What?” I interrupt her. “What do you mean he has a cold? Did you take him outside without his jacket again? Em, he needs a jacket. It’s not summer anymore.”

“Nate!” she yells. “First of all, that’s not how colds work. He probably picked it up from daycare. It’s completely normal. In fact, it’s good for his immune system. Secondly, don’t you dare try to jacket shame me.”

Jacket shame? What the hell does that even mean?

“He wasn’t wearing a jacket at the park the other day,” I point out.

“It was seventy degrees!” she snaps. “Furthermore, it’s none of your damn business.”

I scrub my hand down my face. “I know. You’re right. I just worry about him. He’s my only nephew.”

“I get it.” Her voice is more gentle now. “He’s my only kid.”

“Well, did you at least take him to the pediatrician?”

“Nate,” she warns.

“Okay, okay. Then why are you calling?”

There’s a little cry in the background and then a muffled voice. “I know, baby. Mommy’s almost done on the phone.” There’s some more shuffling. “Are you still there?”

“I’m still here. Is he getting enough fluids?”

“Oh my God. You’re impossible. Besides being his mother, did you forget that I’m also a nurse?”

“What do you need, Em?” I ask, ready for this conversation to be over. I love my sister, I really do, but sometimes she’s infuriating.

“Well, I’m supposed to meet with a wedding photographer, but I obviously can’t now because Rowan is sick and Luke is at a bike show, so…”

“So…”

“Could you please meet with her? I’ll email you all of my questions.”

I sigh again. I was wrong before. As much as I hate the thought of talking about my feelings with my father, meeting with a goddamn wedding photographer is the absolute last thing I want to do. “Can’t you reschedule?”

“Um, no, Nate. I can’t reschedule,” she says as if I’m suggesting she jump off a bridge. “She’s very busy and in really high demand. It took me forever to find the right fit, and her portfolio is amazing.”

I’m not sure who replaced my sister, but ever since she started planning this wedding, it’s like she’s a completely different person.

In a good way, I remind myself. She’s been a little over the top about this wedding, but she’s happy. As much as it pains me to admit, she found love—the real kind that wraps around you like a blanket and makes you feel seen and safe. It happens to be with my best friend, whose nose I nearly broke when I first found out about them, but we’re past all that now.

“Fine,” I mutter. “Send me the time and address.”

“Oh, right, it’s in fifteen minutes.”

“Emory!”

“Sorry, Rowan was totally fine, and I was going to drop him off with Luke’s mom, but then he spiked a little temp.”

“Temp? Emory Caldwell. You didn’t tell me he had a fever!”