Page 10 of Flawless

That’s how we greeted one another as kids whenever we would return from camp or a weekend away with friends. It’s been a long time since I’ve greeted him that way.

He pulls up a chair on the side of the bed and takes my hand in his.

“Why am I not surprised that you’re the first one here?” I murmur.

He presses my knuckles to his lips and kisses them.

“Ease up on the parents. You know they’re in Italy. They’re on the way.”

“They don’t have to be. You didn’t need to come either. I don’t know why Jade called you all. I hate that she always panics and jumps the gun. I’m thinking about firing her.”

“Why? She’s your agent and your best friend. Besides, she’s got your best interest at heart.”

Twisting my lips, I close my eyes, thinking about all the ways she’s offended me lately.

“What?”

“Nothing. I just...she can’t be making rash decisions like that, Onyx.”

“She can when it’s dealing with your family, Dani. We love you, and we just want you to be okay.”

“I get that, but Mom. She doesn’t need that worry. And Dad, I’ll probably never hear the end of this from him. They were out of the country, for crying out loud. You were all the way on the West Coast. It was just dehydration.”

“Dani, come on. It’s me. You can tell me the truth.”

“The truth is I was dehydrated! I told you that. Don’t start with the conspiracy theories, please. I don’t need that.”

“Not a conspiracy, Dani. Just wondering what’s really going on with my little sister.”

“That,” I say, pointing my finger at him. “That’s what I’m talking about. You, Mom, and Dad are all in this conspiracy that I must be doing drugs or living this out-of-control life.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. Mom thinks nothing of the sort. Me? I don’t know what to think, and I don’t like jumping to conclusions when I don’t have the facts. That’s why I ask the question first. It gives you a chance to be honest with me. Then, if you’re not, I’ll draw my own conclusions.”

“Don’t come down here looking for problems where there are none, Onyx. I overheard your conversation with the doctor.”

“Baby girl, I’m not your enemy. I know that it may look that way from where you’re sitting, but I love you. I’m here to make sure that you know that and to help in any way that I can.”

“Don’t need your help,” I mumble, pulling my hand free of his.

“They said that you were dehydrated,” he says, changing the subject.

Among other things,I think.

“Yeah,” I reply weakly.

“Dani.”

“Onyx.”

I always hated it when he did that as a kid. It was a signal that he was about to lecture me for something as though he were my father and not my older brother.

“It’s me, baby girl. What’s going on with you? It seems like these last couple of years, you’ve been flying high and living life on the edge.”

“I’m just living, Onyx.”

“Yeah, but you’re taking more risks now than you did all those years you lived in Italy. The modeling years appeared to be tamer than these years. What are you doing to yourself?”

“I’m not doing anything,” I say, turning onto my side and away from my brother.

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