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She forces a smile. “Just remember, I’m here if you ever need to talk.”
“Thanks, little sis. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I lightly nudge her shoulder, and her smile turns real. Then we start across the grass and toward a tree where Bailey and Payton are sitting in the shade.
Bailey is babbling about something with a sandwich in her hand, while Payton dazes off into the empty space. It reminds me of yet another problem I need to deal with, though I’m not sure I can deal with this one on my own. I need help, even though I’m not a huge fan of asking for it, especially from my sisters. But this isn’t really about me. This is about helping Payton.
Taking a deep breath, I do something I haven’t done in a long time.
“Maybe you could take them to lunch,” I suggest to Londyn. “And work on finding out what’s going on with Payton.”
Londyn appears a bit surprised, probably because this is the first time I’ve asked for help in a very long time. “I can do that.”
Taking another deep breath, I prepare to do something else I rarely do. I dig my keys out of my pocket and hand them to her, my chest tightening again for a different reason. “Just don’t be too pushy with her. If she gets too irritated, maybe back off for a bit. Pay’s stubborn and getting to the bottom of what’s going on might take us some time and a lot of careful prying.”
She takes the keys from me. “I can handle this. Go have lunch with our hot neighbor and try to enjoy yourself. You need the rest. You look like someone who’s stayed up for days while planning for the apocalypse.”
“Gee, thanks,” I say dryly.
She stuffs the keys into her pocket. “Sorry, but it’s true.”
I sigh. She’s probably right. And as much as I’d love to just go out and enjoy myself, I won’t be able to until I fix all our problems.
The shitty part is that, deep down, I know I may never be able to do that. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last handful of years, it’s that problems have a way of always being a part of the Harlyton’s lives. It was part of the reason I wanted to take off to college so badly. I thought, maybe if I got away from Dad and his world, I could escape the problems. Perhaps I was being naïve. Perhaps they would’ve followed me. I guess I’ll never find out, since I’m not going anywhere for a while.
That thought makes me feel super depressed, but I shove it aside and focus on looking composed as we reach Bailey and Payton.
“Hey, my favorite people in the whole wide world,” I greet my sisters with a smile.
Bailey smiles back, while Payton scowls at me.
“Hey, big sis,” Bailey says, picking the crust off her sandwich. “Wait. We don’t have to call you Mom now, do we? Because that’d be weird.”
I promptly shake my head. “No way. Never, ever call me Mom. Not just because it makes me sound old, but because I could never replace her.”
“Obviously,” Payton mutters, and I sigh.
Bailey frowns at her before looking back at me, her brows dipping. “Where’s your lunch?”
“Oh. I’m actually going off campus to eat.” I could tell them with who, but I’m hoping I don’t have to.
“Cool. This sandwich tastes like balls anyway.” Bailey rises to her feet and collects her bag from off the ground. “So, where are we going? Please say somewhere good.”
I scratch my wrist and prepare myself for what’s coming. I know my sisters well enough to know how they’re going to react. “Actually, Lon is going to take you to lunch. I have something else to do right now.”
Londyn gives me an amused look, knowing I’m being vague on purpose.
“What do you have to do?” Bailey wonders with her brows knit.
“Um …” I scratch the back of my neck. “I’m going to lunch with someone.”
“With who? Wait. Are you making friends without us?” she jokes, slinging the handle of her bag over her shoulder.
“Hey.” Blaise’s voice sails from over my shoulder, causing me to tense. A second later, he steps up beside me, his blond hair blowing in the wind. “I was just heading out to my car to meet up with you.” His gaze skims across my three sisters then lands on me. “Are you ready to go?”
“Wait … This is who you’re going to lunch with?” Bailey looks at me, her brow arching meticulously.
“Yeah. So what?” I say defensively. “It’s not a big deal.”
Bailey glances at Blaise then back at me. “Are you guys dating or something?”
