Page 12 of Love Me Fierce

“Aren’t you home kind of early?”

“Early for you, maybe.”

She laughs. “We’re not talking about me. Come on, weddings are supposed to be romantic.”

Oh, McKenna. “Sorry to disappoint you.”

She sighs. “Can you blame me for secretly wishing for some hot billionaire cowboy to sweep you off your feet?”

I cover my laugh so I don’t wake Matty. “‘Billionaire cowboy?’ You’ve been reading too many romance novels.”

“Maybe you should read a few. I’ll send you some recs.”

Hmm. Vibrator + fictional hot billionaire cowboy might work just fine.“How was your show last night?” I ask.

“My god, Vivi, the crowd was incredible. It was like playing in a church. They were so… I dunno.Reverent. Just listening to my songs, like they cared. And the acoustics.” She releases a happy sigh. “I’m already dreaming of when I can play there again.”

Longing to be with her, to be one of those fans she so appreciates, tugs at me. “You doing okay for money?”

“I’ve got it covered.”

During my divorce, she made me promise to stop putting money into her account.It’s time you took care of yourself for once,Vivi. I’m okay.

I wonder if she’s getting paid for this gig, or if this is another “I’m all about the adventure” kind.

“Are your companions behaving themselves?” I ask.

She scoffs. “Uh, no, but what didyou expect?”

“Doug hasn’t tried to come back, though, right?”

“Yeah,” she sighs.

“Kenna,” I warn.

“I know, I know. Don’t fall for the narcissistic drug addict. Sometimes I miss him, that’s all. He could be really brilliant. And sweet.”

He also stole from her and made a fool of himself at her biggest show last winter. And when he was down on his luck, which was often, he dragged the rest of the crew down, too, and that’s not a battle my sister needs to fight.

“Crazy idea, ready?” she asks.

I smile. “Ready.”

“The tour ends in Bavaria. Why don’t you and Matty meet me there? I guess they have this thing called a Christmas market and it’s supposed to be pretty magical. We could go to other cities too. The train system is slick.”

Buying two tickets to Germany is so far out of my budget. “That would be so fun.”

“I would set everything up. Just think about it, okay?”

She sounds so grown up. I blink back the emotions stinging the corners of my eyes. When Kent and I divorced, she was so relieved I was free that she cried.

“Okay.” I can’t break it to her that I already have. My priority is paying off my divorce, then I plan to save for a place of our own in Finn River. Our little six-hundred-square-foot mobile home has been a great landing pad, but I want Mateo to have a place to bring friends over and a yard to play in. I also wouldn’t mind a guest room. McKenna has only visited once since we moved here, and while I’m fine sharing a bed, it’s not a long-term solution.

Kenna and I talk a little more, but I mostly soak up her descriptions of her travels. The band she’s touring with is a bigger name in Europe than in the U.S., so she’s getting some experience playing for bigger crowds. I’m a little envious of her big, wild life right now, but it makes me happy knowing she’s having fun and seeing the world.When we were little, money was always tight, but we used to pore over Great Aunt Gwen’s National Geographics, daydreaming of exotic places we’d go someday. I’m glad at least one of us is able to tap into that dream.

After we say goodbye, I decide against the playlist and pick up my knitting, my mind saturated with thoughts of travel and adventure. What would it be like to get on a plane and go someplace like Germany, for fun? How cool would it be to step off the plane and see my little sister’s giant smile? We could eat schnitzel and take the train and stay in some cheap but cute little hotel and tell each other “danke schoen” like in that old song.

Maybe it’s worth considering?

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