Page 121 of The Plan

“I was so happy when I saw your text. Look at this.” She pulls out her iPad from behind her and starts showing me planes with green interior design.

“Isn’t it so cute?!” She watches for my reaction with a smile as she swipes through all of the pictures. It’s all emerald green, and it gives a rich vibe. Those are her actual words.

“Yeah, I like it. Are you thinking of getting a jet?” I would tell her not to since she can always use mine, but once her mind is set on something, there’s no telling her otherwise.

“I was actually thinking of doing this cute makeover on… your jet.” She smiles innocently, and I only smile at her as I shake my head.

“Sure, Sage.”

“Really?!”

“If it’ll make you happy, then paint the entire plane green.” She tells me that’ll be too overwhelming before tackling me with a hug. I can’t help but laugh at her excitement as she goes on with more ideas for the plane.

I want to hear her plans, but I tell her she can do whatever she wants so I can talk to her about the reason I came here.

“You can plan that special night.” I leave that in the air, and she turns her head to the side but then shoots up from her seat, just like her twin did.

“Did you?!”

“I did.” She quite literally fucking screams before pulling me up from my seat. She wraps her arms around my torso and runsin place with her happy feet. I throw my head back with a laugh at her excitement.

“I’m so sosoproud of you, Sire!” I wrap my arms around her head, but she quickly tells me not to ruin her hair because of some video she needs to record. I settle for a kiss on the top of her head before we sit back down.

“I spoke to Vid.” She turns to me and closes her iPad so she doesn’t get distracted. I quickly give her the run down, and when I bring up the miscarriage, she cries, so I end up hugging her as I finish the story.

“That’s a lot.” She sniffles, and I chuckle softly. “No wonder you two wouldn’t talk to each other. You guys lost—” Her lip trembles again, and I pull her back in.

“Please stop crying, Sage. We’re okay.” She nods and takes a deep breath. When she looks like she won’t fall apart, I tell her the other reason I came here. “I’m making my rounds and making amends.” She turns her head to the side, and I can’t help but smile because she has the same chunky round face as when we were kids.

“I made a promise to all of you when I found out I was getting adopted, but I made another one specifically to you.” She smiles at me, hopefully as ever, and it pains me that I broke that promise.

After I gave my huge speech to the entire family, telling all of them why I’d stay sober, I pulled Sage aside and told her I'd especially stay clean for her. Seeing Sage cry is like being gutted, and she cried every damn time I was high, which was a lot. I told her I’d never make her cry again, and the day August told her I was going to rehab, she fucking sobbed.

A huge part of me didn’t want to go to rehab, but hearing my sister break down the way she did? August didn’t even have to admit me because I did it my fucking self.

“I lied to you, Sage.” She leans back like she can’t understand me. “When you came to check on me after August sent you, I was high, and I lied.”

“Oh…” She nods a few times, but she doesn’t look like she has anything else to say.

“I genuinely think it would’ve taken me twice as long to get sober if it weren’t for you, August, and Lis. In high school and the last four years.” She searches my eyes, and a smile slowly grows on her face.

“Really?”

“Of course.” I pull her into my embrace, and she rests her head on my chest. “Sobriety doesn’t work if you don’t do it for yourself, and I did. I got sober for me, but you three were that second reason, Sage. I’m sorry I broke my promise, but I won’t again.” I mean every damn word, and when she pulls away, I can tell she knows that.

I let her ramble for a while about new ideas for the plane. Some are actually cool, and others are too girly, but I don’t say no to her because I know she's going to have her way in the end.

After saying goodbye to Sage, I make my way to my last stop. I should’ve saved the easier conversation for last, but Lisette will make this easy for me. Or maybe she’d be an asshole. It really depends on the day with her.

The minute Lis opens her door she studies me. “Do you mind if I paint you?”

“Yes, I mind. I—”

“Yeah, no, I was just asking to be polite. Sit in that chair.” She points to the seat in front of her easel, and I flip her off but sit anyway.

“Where’s Piggy?”

“Piglet.” She corrects me on her dumb name for a turtle and points to the other room. I quickly get up to see the little thing,mainly because I bought her a bunch of shit for his new tank and wanted to see how she set it up.

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