Page 2 of The Road to Finding Us

“You two used to get along okay. What happened?” Maverick questions, like he didn’t have a front-row seat to the rollercoaster ride of our relationship—or lack thereof—when we were all in college.

“He disgusts me! Like, so much it makes all of my parts want to shrivel up and die. Sorry, Mav, my lady parts can’t risk it.” I don’t mention to Maverick that Aspen quite literally humped me and dumped me. There are things I don’t feel like telling my twin brother—who also happens to be Aspen’s best friend.

Maverick audibly gags on the other line of the phone. “Lil, you did not just mention your lady bits to me. I’m your brother, talk about that shit with Veronica or Selma.”

I make a mental note to call Selm later today. She’s still in Kansas, but maybe she could road trip with me.

Because I’m sure as hell not riding with He Who Shall Not Be Named.

My shoulders shrug even though I know Maverick can’t see me. “You’re the one who’s eavesdropping on our conversation. I called Veronica, not you.”

“Anyway,” Veronica says, probably giving Maverick one of her classic death stares, “we can’t wait to see you soon!”

I grumble in response as I pull up to my studio apartment building. After putting the car in park, I decide to sit in my nice air-conditioned car for a moment longer. It’s hotter than hell in Texas right now. I know I’m about to break a sweat during the short trek from my car to my second-story apartment.

“I can’t wait to see you either. Traitor.” I smile, picking at the lime green nail polish on my thumb and making a mental note to get my nails done before traveling.

“Oh, I know you’ll forgive me. I’ll make sure to text Aspen and tell him you need a ride! Bye, Lil.” Veronica hangs up the phone before I get the chance to respond.

“Boo, you whore,” I mumble at my open iPhone home screen. Then, I go to text Veronica immediately.

Lily: If you tell Aspen that, I will punch you in the boob until it falls off.

Veronica: Oops. Too late!

Lily: You have been warned. Wear an extra padded bra next time I see you. I’m coming for those tatas.

I throw my phone onto the passenger seat, ignoring the vibrations alerting me to missed messages.

Aspen, Aspen, Aspen. I lean back in my seat, thinking about the long and complicated history between the two of us. The first memories I have of him flood my mind.

2

Lily

Past - Age Eighteen

“Pivot! Pivot!” I shout, grunting underneath the heavy object I’m carrying.

My brother looks over his shoulder as he climbs our dorm stairs, and the same blue eyes as mine roll dramatically. “We’re each carrying our own boxes. I don’t think that reference works very well right now,” Maverick says, his voice echoing through the stairwell.

We’d waited in line to use the elevators for about one minute before I got too impatient and decided we should take the stairs instead.

It turns out eighteen-year-olds and their families are pretty lazy when it comes to freshman move-in day. Lucky for us, we have the stairwell to ourselves.

Well, almost. A girl peeks her head out from the very top, giving me an odd look. I stick my tongue out at her. Anyone who doesn’t understand my reference can go pivot right on out of my life.

“Stop being a fun sucker, Mav,” I tell my brother.

He groans when I start to sing the song I’ve been chanting in his ear for nearly all our lives.

“If you are a fun sucker like Maverick, like Maverick,” I sing-song, my sweaty palms slipping on the cardboard box. I’m still belting out the words when Maverick pushes the stairwell door open, not holding it open for his very own sister.

“Jerk,” I mumble, propping the old door open with my foot.

“I’m the one helping you and Selma move into your dorm instead of moving into mine. Stop calling me names!” he says.

I scurry behind him as he reads all the numbers on the doors until he abruptly stops. So abruptly, I run right into him. “Oof.” I balance the box so it rests against my hip, peering around it to see why he stopped.

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