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“And yet, you aren’t mine,” I throw out there, laughing when he flips me off over his head as I see our mother shaking hers. She’s always hated how close he and I are. Sometimes I swear she purposefully tried to pit us against each other when we were younger. The thing she’s never figured out is how protective Kent is of me. He barely tolerates our parents, but they’re so blinded by their view of him, their perception that he’s perfect, that they miss it. The only reason he’s still around is because I am. When I’m not here, neither is he.
My phone goes off with an alert, the tone I assigned to Kent, and I know he’s texting me from the kitchen. It’s how we’ve coped with having the parents we do, we vent via messages, dad and mom none the wiser.
Kent: Usual spiel?
Me: All I hear is blah, blah, blah.
Kent: I thought that was what they were saying.
Me: And you’re the good kid?
Kent: Brat.
“Really, Ember? We were talking. I’d appreciate it if you’d pay attention to me,” my mom says.
“Now you know how it feels,” I reply before grabbing my purse and walking out. I’m done with this, with them. I make a mental note to start looking for an apartment. When I was away at college, it wasn’t a big deal, but now that I’m home and planning to stay, I’ll go crazy if I live in this house any longer. Since I’m still job hunting, I’ll have to wait for that to change. I just hope it’s soon.
Me: I’m outta here. They’re all yours.
Kent: That’s mean. Take it back.
Me: Couldn’t pay me to. Later, bro.
Kent: Tell Adam hi.
I stick my tongue out at Kent, though he can’t see it. I’m just thankful he and Adam get along. The two of them, Adam’s siblings, and my grandparents are the most important people in my life.
Kent: So immature.
Me: How do you know when I do that?
Kent: Because I’m awesome.
Me: Awesomely dorky.
Kent: Well, now you’re just making shit up.
Me: I don’t like you.
Kent: I know. You love me.
I’m laughing as I get in my car, my mood brighter despite my mom’s attempt to get under my skin. She’s similar to one of those parasites. You don’t know they’re there until it’s almost too late, but once you do, you immediately take steps to get rid of it. Yeah, I just likened my mom to a lethal bug. If she was yours, you’d agree and seek treatment…or bug repellant.
After driving around for about an hour, I feel a little calmer and decide to stop at Adam’s. I’m met at the door by Riley and she gives me a big hug. I look at her and can just tell she and Adam talked about what was bothering her. Between me, Camden, and Riley, he’s three for three lately in the deep conversations department.
“I love my new clothes. I’ve been trying them on, seeing what looks good together. Wanna help me figure out what to wear next?”
“Of course, sweetie. Let me tell your brother I’m here first.”
“He knows,” Adam’s deep voice informs me before he wraps his arms around me and pulls me toward him, my back to his very hard chest.
“Gross,” Riley says as I turn to kiss Adam. “Unless you wanna send me to therapy, I’m outta here.” Then we hear her footsteps as she runs upstairs, getting away from us as fast as possible.
“So that’s how to get some alone time with you?”
“I think that’ll only work on Riley,” I snort while breaking the news to him.
“Fine, I’ll just bribe the other two.”
