Page 34 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

“Hey, Pops,” Lily called through the screen.

“Hey.” I grabbed a juice box from the refrigerator and climbed onto one of the stools. “How were classes today?”

“Good. They were really good actually.” She smiled and it lit up her whole face.

“Proud of you, Lil,” Dad said. “How’s Kaiden feeling about Saturday?”

“Good, I think. You know how it goes, he’s in game mode.”

“I remember that all too well.” Mom glanced over her shoulder, smiling. “And your sessions with the new therapist?”

“Good, Mom. They’re going well, just like the last three times you asked.” Lily chuckled. “You don’t need to worry, college is good. Me and Kaiden are great. Everything is perfect.”

“We will always worry, sweetheart. Isn’t that right, Flick, babe?”

Mom joined us at the breakfast counter and lifted her glass of wine in the air. “Your dad is right. You’re our first born; it’s our prerogative to worry.”

“Mom,” Lily said, casting me an apologetic look.

But it wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard a hundred times before.

They had every cause to worry about Lily. She hadn’t had it easy. But she’d made it. She’d overcome her anxiety and self-doubt and gone off to college with Kaiden. She was living her life and by all accounts, having a lot of fun doing it.

But she was their first born. The daughter they’d always had to worry about. The daughter who needed to be wrapped up in cotton wool and protected from the big bad world.

“What?” Mom balked. “What did I say?”

“Nothing.” I pursed my lips and pinned Lily with a hard look. Now was not the time to get into it.

“How’s practice going, Pops?” Lily tried to direct the attention on me. “Does Coach Yardley think you’re—”

“Now you’re not drinking too much on your new medication are you?” Mom cut her off. “Because I read this article about the—”

“I’m going to head to my room,” I said, standing abruptly.

“No, don’t go, Pops. I want to hear about practice.”

“We can call later or something.” When I could actually get a word in.

“Lily is right, baby. Come on, tell us.”

“Okay.” I gave her a weak smile. “Coach thinks—”

“I’m sorry, I just worry. I can’t help it.” Mom turned back to the screen. “I was talking to Jeanette at the store and her cousin has—”

With a quiet sigh, I excused myself and made my way up to my room.

Lily was Mom’s star—they even had a song.

Lily Star, Lily Star. Don’t you cry…

There was no song for me. And it wasn’t that I needed a song, I didn’t. But growing up in Lily’s shadow hadn’t always been easy. The bond she and Mom shared… I’d wanted that.

Could never understand why we didn’t have it.

My parents loved me. I never for a second doubted that. And I adored my sister. Always had, always would. But I couldn’t help the way I felt, deep down in my heart.

I’d barely made it to my room when my cell phone vibrated. I opened the text message from Lily and smiled.

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