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Suddenly, she lunged off her stool and threw both arms around my neck in a crushing hug. “You are the best big sister in the entire world!”

“Girl, get off me!”

She squeezed tighter, rocking me. “We’re going to have so much damn fun!”

“We?” I scoffed and gently pushed her back. “Oh, no, sis. I’m not attending.”

Willow’s broad smile instantly vanished. “What?”

“I’m not attending,” I repeated.

“But you just said—”

“I said you could keep your party,” I clarified smoothly, crossing my legs. “I never said I was coming to it.”

She gaped at me like I had lost my mind. “Are you seriously doing this right now?”

“Very seriously.”

“Why on earth not?”

“Because I already promised Kaidence that I would take him trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.”

“And you still can do that!” She waved her hand dismissively in the air. “The party doesn’t even start until eight o’clock at night. You can take him out, get his candy, drop him off with Henrietta for a sleepover, and still have plenty of time to get your outfit on.”

I shook my head firmly. “Willow, go have fun. Seriously. Enjoy yourself with your friends.”

“But, Lakelyn—”

“I’m not coming.”

Willow let out a dramatic, frustrated groan. “You are being so damn hardheaded!”

“And you’re being annoying.”

She folded her arms tightly over her chest, pouting. “Fine.”

“Fine.”

We sat there staring each other down for a few tense seconds before she rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “But if you change your mind between now and then, I can help you pick out a last minute costume.”

“I won’t change my mind,” I reassured her.

“Are you sure? There will be food, drinks, music, fine men, and enough people in costumes for you to pretend you don’t know half of them if you get tired of socializing.”

“Willow, for the last time, I’m not coming. Drop it.”

She lifted both hands in mock surrender. “Okay! Damn!” Then a thought clearly hit her because her expression brightened again. “But can I ask you for a favor since you’re a millionaire and all now?”

“The answer is no, Willow. I am not investing in your party. You wanted to keep this damn party, and now you can fund it. I am not paying for a DJ, liquor, decorations, food, or whatever other foolishness you got sitting in an online cart somewhere.”

Her mouth fell open. “So you just gonna sit on ninety million dollars while your only sister struggles to provide quality entertainment for the community?”

“The community did not ask you to throw a party.”

“They didn’t have to. Sometimes leadership requires vision.”

“Leadership also requires a budget… use yours.”