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Donny frowns. “Really? She’s beautiful, and I’ve never really talked to her, but I assume she’s as smart as the rest of the family.”
“She is. She’s gotten straight As all through college. But she’s in the shadow of three amazing older siblings.”
Donny laughs. “That’s silly. I suppose you never had that feeling, huh?”
“What feeling?”
He chuckles. “Being in the shadow of three amazing older siblings?”
I give him a good-natured swat. “You guysareall amazing. You know what I think of you. But we’re all so different. I don’t know how we could ever be in competition with each other. You’ve got reclusive Dale, with his gift for winemaking. Then you, such a big personality who followed Mom into law. Quiet and brainy Diana, who completely does her own thing with architecture. And then you have me. The only one who’s really interested in what Dad does.”
“Youarethe cowgirl of the bunch,” Donny agrees.
“And damned proud of it.” I smile for a moment but then sigh.
“What’s wrong?”
“Dad wasn’t happy when I decided to go on this tour. He was excited that I was going to be able to start working with him right away since I graduated early.”
“You’ll be able to do that when the tour is over.”
“Yeah, that’s what I told him. Both he and Mom agreed that this would be a wonderful time for me to see Europe, especially since you were going to be here for part of it and Brock for the rest of it. But you know Mom and Dad. I’m their baby, so they think I need to be looked after all the time.”
“I suppose we all kind of feel that way about you, Bree.”
“You don’t have to. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“Callie and Rory are thrilled that you’re doing this for Maddie. This is huge for her. The fact that you’re letting her stay in your room, and that Brock paid for her flight. They worry about her a bit.”
“Why?”
“Because she feels left out so much.”
“Angie, Sage, Gina, and I don’t mean to leave her out. It’s just that we’re all family. We’ve known each other, well, since we were born.”
“I know, but like you said, she feels like she’s overshadowed by her siblings too. She seems a little depressed lately.”
“She won’t be depressed for long.” I glance around the hotel bar. The UK flag is displayed proudly on one wall. “We’re in England, Donny. Can you believe it?”
“I know. It’s going to be great.”
Our Diet Cokes arrive…without ice.
“I guess we have to get used to no ice,” Donny says.
I pour some soda from the can into the glass it was served with. “I guess so. But isn’t it cool? To see how other people live?”
“It’s very cool.”
I take a drink of my Diet Coke, let the fizz slide down my throat. It’s good and refreshing. I just feel…
I feel like I’m about to embark on an amazing adventure.
If it doesn’t include Jesse Pike? Oh, well. I’ll get over it.
But I still haven’t ruled it out.
“Jesse was in a bad mood this evening, wasn’t he?” I say to Donny.
