Page 115 of Between Us

“Not anymore, no. She goes to UCLA and hardly visits. And Arielle,” I almost plead, suddenly worried this could affect how often I see my brother and niece, “she’sno one.I promise.”

Her lips purse, like she’s trying to decide if I’m being truthful. To be completely honest, I don’t know where I’d fall on that meter right now. I just don’t want to lose my brother more than I feel like I already have.

Before she can say anything, her eyes drift over my shoulder, and from the change of expression, I don’t have to look to know who’s walking over here. She offers a smile that looks so sincere, I’d believe it if it weren’t for the conversation that abruptly ended.

The girl’s actually got some talent.

The rest of their visit goes well enough. Arielle doesn’t bring up Vivi again, though there’s a lingering tension that follows her over the next two days. On the bright side, Adrian and Grady got along great. My brother even asked us to visit sometime, which is a first.

I’m not sure it’ll actually happen.

But I choose to hold onto the hope of it.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Blake

It’sAdrian’stwenty-thirdbirthday,and we’re at our typical table at The Loop with a full spread of food in front of us.

He insisted he didn’t want anything special. Which is typical of him, but he had made my birthday almost a week-long affair. Last month, we went on a trip to Joshua Tree for the weekend, a small shopping spree at Michael’s for new yarn, and dinner at SunRay’s. It was the most perfect birthday I’ve had yet.

So, I couldn’t donothingfor him.

Instead, we had dinner at my parents’ last night with both of our families, even Grady, Arielle, and five-month-old Stella. It was his second time meeting them. And last weekend, I took him on a staycation in La Jolla. It’s not much, but he seems more than happy with how the week’s going.

However tonight, we had three little guys who wanted to spend Adrian’s birthday with him.

We help with the Paulson boys as much as we can, but I know that time is going to be cut back when I start at UCAH in the fall. There’s a lot of things in my life I realized I took for granted in my year off from school. Like the amount of time I had to spend with Mikey, Shawn, and Luke. Or how my days didn’t have a lot of routine, outside of work and therapy.

As the days fade into the next, I grow more and more excited to start this journey. My entire family is excited for me, and proud of the career path I’ve found, yet it’s brought my dad and I even closer.

He’s working on a budget to bring in another veterinarian and technicians, who have experience working in the community medicine sector within the next couple of years. Olivia’s been one of my biggest supporters, and we’ve grown closer since I told her the news.

So much over the last few months has changed for Adrian and me; all for the better.

In late March, everyone’s spring break fell on the same week again, so the six of us—Adrian, Margo, Meera, Jatin, Dev, and me—took a trip to Sedona. We spent the days hiking, exploring, and trying as many restaurants as we could in the short time. Other than the physical distance, I haven’t noticed much of a change in my friendships with Margo and Meera, but I can’t wait to have them home for the summer.

Adrian and Jatin have fallen into an easy friendship. They study together a few nights a week. He even accompanies us to the gym, and The Loop, every once in a while. The more time we spend with him, the more I realize Adrian was right. Jatin doesn’t treat me like his little sister’s best friend. He even asks about Margo at least once every time I see him.

The best news we’ve gotten recently was at the beginning of April, exactly a month ago and two days before Easter. I’m not religious, neither is Adrian, but it felt like a miracle to learn thatChispais officially in remission and radiation was never a necessity. She’ll continue coming in more often than just her annual exams, in case the tumors come back, and we have a chance to catch them early again. But since her surgeries in October, she’s been recovering greatly.

Polly’s still a pain in my ass, but Benji the Beagle has also recovered from his surgery and is now seeing a trainer to avoid any other avoidable complications, like eating cat poop and branches.

“What else did you do for your birthday?” Luke asks, pulling me from my thoughts. He’s insisted on knowing every single detail of Adrian’s week.

Chuckling, he takes a bite of his brisket sandwich. “That’s it, I promise. We spent last weekend in La Jolla and had dinner with our families last night.”

Not looking fully convinced, Luke huffs out a breath and looks back down to the coloring sheet one of the food trucks was offering to kids.

With all three of the boys occupied, I lean closer to Adrian’s side and quietly ask, “Howdidyou feel about dinner with everyone?”

It was both of our parents, my brother’s family, and Maria. Bonnie couldn’t make it, though I’m not fully convinced she had a valid reason.

Tilting his head, he gives me a curious look and soft smile. “I thought it was great. My parents love spending time with you guys.” His eyes search mine. “How do you think dinner went last night?”

“Oh, good.Really good,” I promise. “I know it wasn’t a surprise necessarily, but I didn’t ask if you would want to spend the evening with your parents and my family too.”

He shakes his head, a little confused. “I’m happy with whatever time I get with my parents, and I don’t know. I guess I’m hoping that it won’t always bemyfamily oryourfamily. It’ll beourfamily.”

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