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"Is that what you think?"
"It's what everyone thinks, Max. How can you not see it?"
Max stares at me in shock, the tension in the room mounting as I wait for his response. I wasn't planning on fighting him today. I didn't want to call him out. He left me no choice. He pushed me to my breaking point.
Do I appreciate him watching out for me? Of course. I'm lucky to have a brother who cares enough to want to protect me.
Do I think he's going overboard? Hell yes. He jumped off the ship weeks ago, and it's floating adrift at sea.
With a nod, Max turns and leaves me standing in the middle of my room. I hear the front door slam shut a few minutes later as I zip up my bag. Pulling it high on my shoulder, I make it to the front door in time to see Max pulling away from the house at the same moment my mom pulls in the driveway.
Dropping my bag just inside the door, I head out to greet my mom.
"Where's Max going?" she asks, staring down the street.
"I'm not sure. Do you need any help?"
"No, sweetie. I'll get everything. I don't want you peeking at your Christmas presents."
"I'm going to head back to school then," I state, pulling her in for a hug so she can't see the anguish on my face. Though, I'm sure she can feel the heavy beating of my heart against her chest.
"Okay, sweet girl. Call me when you get back, so I know you made it safe." Kissing me on the cheek, my mom takes the first load of bags into the house and heads straight for her bedroom.
Snagging my bag off the floor, I look around my childhood home and search my mind for a happy memory to take with me. I do it every time I leave now. Collecting the memories and locking them away for when I need them most.
This one is a special one. It's of last Christmas. My dad is seated in the chair by the tree, playing Santa. He has his arm wrapped around my mom who is sitting on the arm of the chair next to him. Max is leaning against the couch, his legs outstretched, as he opens a rectangular box wrapped in green paper. Lo is on the couch behind Max, tearing into a similar looking box wrapped in red. And I'm seated on the floor in front of my parents, unwrapping a box with gold paper.
We always knew which presents were ours. My mother would color code them instead of putting our names on them. Red for Willow, Green for Max, Gold for me, Blue for dad, and we always wrapped mom's gifts in white.
We look happy. Everyone is smiling. Dad's laughing as Mom whispers something in his ear.
Tucking the memory away, I slip out the door.
The dorms are eerily quiet.The lights in the hall seem softer than normal. There's no loud music blaring or laughter filtering through open doors. Every door is closed. The only sound is my footsteps as I make my way to my room.
This place is officially creeping me out.
After I unpack, I shoot my mom a text to let her know I arrived safe. As soon as I press send, I receive two texts in succession.
MAX: I'm sorry. I really am. I'll back off.
MOM: Your brother is a mess. Why didn't you tell me you two had a fight? You shouldn't have left, Evie.
Ugh! Of course Max would rat me out to Mom.
ME (to Max): I love you, Max, but you need to let me live. To make mistakes. To learn from those mistakes. You can't keep protecting me from everything.
ME (to Mom): I'm sorry. I was really upset. Max and I are fine. We'll always make up.
MOM: I love you, honey. Get some rest.
MAX: I promise I'll try. See you tomorrow? Dinner’s at four.
Yes, he will see me tomorrow. And I have a feeling we're going to have this same fight. Because as much as Max says he's going to release the restraints he's put around me, it's going to take time for him to let go.
Pulling up my text thread with Leo, I notice he hasn't even seen my last message. It's only been a few hours. He might still be in the car. Or maybe he fell asleep when he got back. I know I could go for a nap right now.
Wanting to surprise him, I clean up and give myself a spritz of the peach blossom body spray I know he likes before trekking across campus to his dorm. The front doors are unlocked, but no one is at the front desk. Heading straight up the stairs, I'm smiling to myself, thinking about being wrapped in Leo's arms, when I hear voices.
