Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“Watch your tone,” Dad warned, then looked at Zoey. “Alex has a point. Their schedule is pretty rigorous.”
“True.” She frowned. “I don’t think my body could handle it. I’d have to watch my levels even more.”
Well, shit. She was doing so much better now that I sometimes forgot she wore an insulin pump under her clothes. Something she’d struggled with at first because she was nervous the other kids would notice. Being a teen was tough all the way around.
“Nah, I think you’d find a way to manage. Look how far you’ve come,” I said, pulling a smile from her.
“Yes, she has. And thanks for the reminder.” Mom cleared her throat. “It’s time to share what we’re thankful for this year.”
Zoey and I groaned, which made Mom cluck her tongue at us. We grinned across the table, finding common ground again. Someday she’d be off to college and finding her own way too, and I’d be proud of her. For now, I’d continue to be her annoying older brother and try to put old hurts behind me.
“It’s a tradition,” Mom insisted. “I’ll go first. I’m thankful to have my family all together and that my children are doing well…except for their bickering.”
Dad laughed, then went next, saying something similar.
Zoey talked about school stuff and being able to manage her illness, which made me feel guilty all over again.
“I’m thankful for my family, obviously,” I said when it was my turn. “But also to have the opportunity to strike out on my own and, like, find myself or whatever.”
“I’ve noticed the change,” Dad said, and my face heated.
“What do you mean?” I asked, feeling stupid for my admission.
Dad shared a look with Mom.
“We know it was hard early on with Zoey. We were trying to find the right diagnosis and manage her episodes, which were scary for all of us,” he said, and my mind flooded with memories of the ambulance pulling into our driveway that handful of times when she’d crashed. “You were such a good kid. Probably held a lot inside.”
“No, I—”
“It’s okay,” Mom said, patting my hand. “We should be able to talk about these things with each other. You’re an adult now and getting your feet under you, and that’s a good thing.”
My eyes met Zoey’s wary expression, and the lump in my throat grew.
“I was always jealous of you,” she confessed in a quiet voice.
“Huh?” I gawked at her. “For what exactly?”
“For being able to do whatever you wanted and not always being under strict orders from the doctor and stuff.”
“Wow. Okay, yeah, I get that.” I sighed. Damn, this was eye-opening. “I’m proud of you, Zo. And I hope you know you can call on me for anything.”
Mom swiped at her eyes as she began clearing the table, and Dad helped, his grin matching Zoey’s. I felt…better? Like the air had needed to be cleared in my family. Who knew it would happen over a Thanksgiving meal?
We took Mom’s pumpkin pie to our visit with Grandma, played catch-up, then zonked out at home with a movie. Zoey requested we all play a board game like we used to as a family, and we stayed up late laughing, eating leftovers, and having a blast.
As Zoey was saying good night, my phone buzzed with a text, and I smiled at the message.
How are things?
My fingers flew over the keys. It was a good day. How about you?
It was nice catching up with family. Glad my aunt and uncle were here because otherwise, the table might’ve been quiet with only the three of us. Dad decided not to show, opting to spend the holiday with his girlfriend, and Bailey is sulking about it, of course.
I frowned as I pictured the tension in the house. Bummer.
He’s still gonna meet Dad for dinner tomorrow, so it’s not like he won’t see him.
I knew by now that for Bailey, it had everything to do with his vision of having his family still intact.
I’ll stop by tomorrow to visit Bailey and some guy named Ted.
Ted looks forward to it. I don’t know about the other guy.
I grinned as I tossed my cell aside, then helped Mom clean up the game.
“I like seeing you smile like that,” Mom said.
“Oh, uh, thanks…” I sputtered. “I’m gonna stop over at the Duval’s tomorrow to, um, hang with…”
“The roommate you see every minute of every day at college?” she teased.
“Well, I mean, yeah…”
“Honey, it’s okay. I know that you and Remy have gotten close.”
I looked away, even though I knew I needed to finally admit it to my parents. “It’s not, like, serious or anything.”
She pushed my hair away from my forehead. “If it wasn’t, would he really drive to most of your meets to see you?”
“It’s to see Bailey too, and…”
“Uh-huh.” She gave me a pointed look. “In high school, Remy looked like he’d rather be any other place on earth.”