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“Hello.”
“Hey. How’s it going?” I ask as I lean back on the couch.
“It’s all the same, just like the last time you asked yesterday.”
Dani’s voice is soft and lifeless. It kills me to see my sister in so much pain. I wish she would just talk to me—hell, to anyone. My parents finally convinced her to go to a therapy session, but I don’t know if she’ll open up to them, a complete stranger, when she doesn’t open up to the people who are closest to her.
“It’s Friday night. Got any plans?”
“Same thing I do every Friday.” Her tone now becomes harsh.
Every time I call to check up on her, it’s the same thing. It’s like being on a daily merry-go-round of me trying to get her to open up and she cuts me off. I’m not sure why I expected this to be any different. We’re all hurting. Doesn’t she realize that? I only wish she would open up about it. The thought of my sister always staying home alone instead of enjoying her life makes me hurt to remember the vibrancy that used to live inside her. I don’t even recognize the woman she has become. All I want her to do is to snap out of it and make her realize we all lost someone we loved that day.
“You know you can always come to visit if you need to get out of the house, right? We could have some brother-sister bonding time. Maybe Haylee would want to come too.”
She tenses at the mention of her best friend, and my heart breaks a little more. She has shut out the one person who needs her most right now.
“No.” She holds her hand up and adjusts herself on the bed, making the camera shake. “Zach, stop. I can’t be there, and you know that.” Her voice breaks, and that was not my intention.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I want you to know that I’m here.”
“Yeah. Sure. I need to go.”
Before I can say goodbye, she hangs up. I set my phone down on the table and rest my elbows on my knees.
Running my fingers through my hair, I exhale a breath. “Son of a bitch.”
I think about calling her back to apologize, but as I reach for my phone, there’s a knock at the door. Perfect timing. I’ll call her tomorrow. I’ll be home next week for Em’s birthday, and hopefully I’ll get some time with her while I’m there for the weekend.
I open the door and find Kyler standing there looking at his phone. He looks up. “Hey.”
“Hey, come on in. I need to grab my phone and wallet.” I move to the side and allow Ky to enter the living room.
I leave Kyler in the living room and run back to my room.
“Wow, this is a nice place.”
“Thanks, man. We like it. Moved in last August,” I reply walking back into the living room.
“We? Oh, you have a roommate.”
I freeze, not even realizing I said “we” just moments before. That one little word threatens to crush my chest. I adjust the collar on my shirt, feeling as though the heat just kicked on in here. There is no longer a “we”—that is something I am not sure I’ll ever be able to get used to.
“Yeah. No. Shit, it’s complicated.” I grip the back of my neck, not wanting to get into this now.
“Recent breakup? That sucks.” Kyler stands there completely oblivious to the emotions boiling inside me, but I swallow it all down and nod.
“Something like that.”
Kyler nods, not pressing the subject, thankfully, as we make our way out of the apartment. Will it ever get easy talking about Emmett?
I need a damn drink.
Later in the night, the party is packed, and Kyler and I just lost after a four-game winning streak at beer pong. My troubles are pushed aside as the alcohol flows through my veins.
“Good game, Em.” I slap Kyler’s back and walk away from the kitchen.
“Who’s Em?” Kyler asks from behind me.
