Page 15 of Enemy Daddy Next Door

Dana, my eldest sister, beams. “Wow, Kira. You did an amazing job with this.”

“Yeah, seriously, you’re a lifesaver,” Gillian adds while distributing glasses of champagne to all of us, each of them garnished with a strawberry.

Harley and I remain silent, giving each other a look. Classic Kira. As the two youngest, we both know how this is going to go down. We’re going to get started, people aren’t going to be focusing, we’re going to get trapped in looking at Stella’s baby book or wondering why Gillian has so many rolls of wrapping paper and then Kira’s going to be furious when at six we don’t even have a fraction of what she wanted done.

We were born into the Solace systems and habits. They weren’t made around us. We were fit into them as best as our parents and sisters could. So, that gives us an amazing ability to see the forest for the trees.

“And we’re drinking why?” I ask as I take my champagne glass.

“Because this is a celebration!” Gillian grins. “It’s not every day I pack up my house in order to move in with my fiancé.”

“And baby daddy,” Harley adds.

“Exactly, this is big for me,” Gillian replies, settling into the couch next to Dana.

Dana wraps her arm around Gillian and kisses the top of her head. “My baby is growing up!”

We all laugh. “Plus, it helps Stella is out with Dad and doesn’t have to see us day drinking,” Gillian says, swigging her champagne.

“Okay, well, then this deserves a toast,” I say, getting to my feet.

“Shouldn’t Gillian make the toast?” Harley asks.

“I’m the youngest, so I get to make the toast,” I retort.

Harley rolls her eyes. “Oh, I forgot. You’re the youngest…”

My sisters giggle while I glare. I hate being reminded that I’m one of the prime examples of youngest child syndrome. I can’t help that I was the smallest for so long and want to be the center of attention when we get together. My sisters all make up for it with their own versions of crazy, that’s for sure. “To Gillian’s next step of her wild journey.”

“Hey!” Gillian interrupts.

“Wild is an affectionate word in this context,” I explain. “You’ve worked tooth and nail to make your bakery dreams come to life, all the while with Stella right by your side. I don’t know of anyone more deserving of this happiness and love you’re cultivating with Axel.”

Gillian smiles at me. “Oh, Amy…you always know what to say.”

“It’s because she’s a writer,” Harley says with a sly smile.

I scan my sisters’ faces. Each of them is so unique and special. I don’t feel that way. Sure, I am a writer. It’s a unique sort of job. But sometimes it’s hard to see the beauty in yourself that you see in other people. Dana cultivates friendships like flowers, Kira works her tail off in tech despite all the adversity she faces as a woman, Harley is curious and full of spitfire.

What am I? A good girl?

I guess.

“To Gillian,” I say with finality, unable to look at the saccharine side of life any longer or else I might just combust into an existential crisis.

“To Gillian!” all my sisters echo.

We hurriedly clink glasses, gabbing as we sip our champagne.

“Well, let’s talk about boys, shall we?” Harley asks with a smile.

My mind immediately goes to Hunter, and I try to erase the thought away as hard as I can with an eraser that doesn’t seem to be doing anything but making the picture murkier. I hope no one can see on my face the excruciating pain I’m in thinking about this man I can never have, nor do I really want.

Harley turns to Dana. “So, how are things with –“

“Don’t even think about it,” Dana interrupts, holding up her hand.

Harley looks at me with wide eyes. “Oh my god.”

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