Page 93 of Writing On The Wall

It’s almost time.

“I’m sorry, Em. What can I help with? I’ll intervene. I cancome along the next time you meet with her. We actually kind of bonded the last time I saw her, anyway. Maybe she’ll listen to me.”

“And bybonded, you mean she said something half-decent and didn’t shred you to pieces with just a stare?”

“Yup.”

“Ugh, I just hate how much energy it takes to be around her. She’s a nicer person after everything that happened last year, but every interaction still leaves me drained. Where’s your car, by the way? I didn’t see it out front.”

“Oh, I uh…had to move it for renovation stuff.” I circle a hand around the room. Ember nods and I continue. “I’m sure things with your mom will get better after the wedding, though, right? I mean, you’re on the right track, at least.”

“I hope so,” she mumbles over a huge bite of her donut. I take a sip of mimosa before pulling out my phone to read the text that just came through.

Ross

Stopping for gas. See you soon

Our eyes both fly to the door when the handle begins to jiggle. Ember frowns at me questioningly while she continues to chew.

“Um…so can you be real quiet for a minute, and whatever happens next, just follow my lead?”

She shifts on the sofa, bringing her feet under her while her back straightens. “I know you’re hiding something, Ivy June.” She whispers. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed just ‘cause I’ve got my own drama right now. You’ve got some explaining to do,” she scolds me, wagging a finger in my direction. But both of us turn our attention to the door handle as it continues to rattle ominously.

Well…this’ll be interesting.

The knob is silent as it turns, but the door hasn’t been oiled, and it moans as it slowly creaks open, just wide enough for a body to slink through.

Ross freezes when he notices us. I lean forward, one leg crossed over the other. I gently swish my champagne glass while my arms casually rest on my thigh, working hard to lift one brow.

“Lost, dearest brother? This ain’t the gas station.” I’m trying to appear super confident when internally I’m like a blob of Jell-o sitting on a dryer running a tumble cycle.

“Ivy—” He laughs without humor in his voice. “You’re home.”

“Surprise.”

“Hi, Ross.” Ember waves, taking a sip from her glass. “Long time. Nice lock-picking skills.”

“Ember… Wow. You look…amazing! H-how are you?”

“She’s engaged, Ross, so you can wipe the Joey Tribbiani look off your face.”

“This looks bad, but I swear I can explain?—”

“I think you’ve done enough explaining.” I scowl at him.

“This isn’t just about me anymore, Vee. Some bad people know about the music box. And they know it’s here.”

Ember does a spit-take. “Saywhatnow?” she demands, mimosa dripping down her chin.

I roll my eyes, since I’m already accustomed to my brother’s routine of embellishing a story to get what he wants. “Ross, I’m not giving it to you, and I’m not leaving my house ‘cause some ‘bad guys’ know where I live,” I tell him, making quotation marks with my fingers. “We’re kinda busy here, so I think you should leave. Lock the door on your way out, will you?”

I had a hunch Ross wouldn’t show up for coffee this morning. His offer felt too desperate, like he was saying exactly what he knew I wanted to hear. But it was his line about readingthrough everything I sent him that tipped me off. I’m ninety-nine-percent sure Ross has dyslexia, too, and that’s why he’s acted out his whole life. It was that and his offer to pay for coffee. He’s always been the one mooching off me. Even as a tween, Ross would beg me to borrow my hard-earned babysitting money and conveniently forget to pay me back.

He lets out a growl before roughly dragging a hand down his face. “I’m trying to do the right thing here, Ivy. You don’t understand?—”

“No, Ross,youdon’t understand! Maybe I see things differently, but that doesn’t mean I’m stupid. You can’t play that card with me anymore, because I’ve finally realized that my struggles are also my greatest advantage—I know how to push through when something is hard. I’m guessing you probably faced the same obstacles. The difference is that I’ve learned to overcome my hurdles instead of just blaming others for them.”

I may have hid my struggles in the past, but I’m determined to be kinder to myself. And although I’m finally learning to love myself, I can’t make my brother do the same. He has to take responsibility for his life.

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