Page 55 of Sure, Pal

“I’ll take that as a no,” Charlie said. “What’s her deal?”

I glanced up at my little sister. “Does that matter right now?”

Charlie shrugged. “It feels good to talk about something that’s not dad.” She sank down and sat on the back porch steps. “So what’s Sienna’s deal? Aren’t you guys into each other?”

I’d never said a word to Charlie about my feelings for Sienna, but Charlie still knew. Her big blue eyes had watched me with my friends in high school and seen through my bullshit. They watched me now and saw how damn much I wanted Sienna to call.

I walked over and sat next to Charlie on the steps. “I was sort of dating Sienna a few months ago, but I fucked it up pretty bad.”

Charlie shocked me and laughed out loud.

“The hell is wrong with you?” I asked.

Charlie continued laughing and shook her head. “I think it’s heartbreakingly stupid that your soulmate has been right in front of you since you were my age, but you’re still not together.” Suddenly, Charlie’s laughter turned to sobs, and she covered her face with both hands.

“Charlie?” I pulled a hand away from her face. It was twisted in pain, and her eyes glistened with tears.

“Is life just a tangled mess of broken hearts, Evan?” Her voice cracked.

I slid my arm around her shoulders. “What do you mean?”

“Mom and dad had this beautiful love, but it was ripped away from them by fucking cancer, and now mom is broken! Before dad got sick, Bea found out that Jack was cheating. She was going to leave him.”

“Shit.” How had I not known about Bea’s marriage problems? Was I that far out of the loop?

“Yup. And you had the girl you’ve wanted basically your whole life, but now you won’t fight for her! Fuck all of this, Evan! There’s no such thing as a happy ending!” Charlie was yelling through her tears now. “We’re all broken and alone!”

Charlie let out a shaky breath and said, “The pizza should be here in like ten minutes. Please make sure mom eats.” She stood up suddenly, crying so hard she could barely breathe. “I have to get out of here.”

“Where are you going?” Worry surged over me. Charlie didn’t freak out like this. She was in agony. But all I had to offer was more of my own anguish, and wounds don’t heal wounds.

“I don’t know!” She screamed at me and tore back through the house.

I sighed and leaned forward to rest my head in my hands. Charlie was allowed to have this outburst. I would let her go, but if she didn’t come back in a few hours, I’d call her every five minutes until she answered. I stood and searched through the grass to find my phone.

I found it after a few minutes and groaned out loud when I saw hundreds of notifications. Ava had tagged me in an “I’m so sorry for your loss” post right before she called. The “love and support” from all of her fans was pouring in.

I wanted to drop my phone in the grass again and leave it to be chewed up by the lawnmower tomorrow morning. Then I saw a text from Sienna.

Hey you. I don’t want to say the wrong thing, but I want you to know you haven’t been out of my thoughts for a single second.

I’d ignored hundreds of texts, calls, comments, and messages this week, but I answered Sienna immediately. Can I see you?

Of course. When and where?

Now. I’m at my mom’s. I swallowed the lump in my throat. This was now my mom’s house, not my parents’ house.

Sienna replied, On my way.

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