Page 86 of Under One Roof

Roman

Wow. That’s incredible.

I choke on a surprised laugh, and when Taryn and Ian toss me weird looks, I show them the text. Because it’s unusual he responded so quickly and said the exact same thing Taryn did. My sister snorts while Ian juts his chin, silently directing me to keep the conversation going.

I’ll get it in the mail this week.

Roman

No, don’t worry about it. Hold on to it for me.

Hold on to it for him? I would really rather not, but we’ve been picking up after him for this long, why not hold a photo of our mother for him indefinitely.

I swipe my thumb, exiting out of the text, only to open the thread I have with Andi, instinctually typing.

Let me know when you arrive.

Never doubt I love.

She was on the last leg of her drive, set to pull into LA around eight o’clock Pacific Daylight Time. Only a few more hours and she’d officially be a Californian again.

Andi

Yes, sir.

Keep your eyes on the road, please.

Never doubt I love.

Andi

I stopped for gas. Having a snack.

She texts me a selfie holding up a cheese stick and a pack of almonds. Protein.

Attagirl.

Never doubt I love.

Then I put my phone away to find my siblings staring at me like I’ve lost my mind. And they’re right. I have.

“What?”

Ian shakes his head while Taryn snorts. “Why didn’t you tell Andi to stay?”

“How’d you know I was talking to her?”

“You have two modes, on and off,” Ian says. “But Andi put you in a different one.”

I rub the heels of my hands against my eyes. “I didn’t really need advice from you two, seeing as how neither one of you has anybody.”

Ian rolls his eyes. “Don’t be a fucking asshole because you’re sad.”

Taryn shrugs like the answer’s so simple. “Coulda just asked her to stay.”

“And give up on her dream? No. Absolutely not.”

Taryn sets her elbow on the table, turning to fully face me, to really make sure her next words hit their target. “Stop being so goddamn selfless all the time. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from being married and divorced, it’s that you have to ask for what you want.”

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