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Prologue
My parents went all outfor this party.
All out might not even be enough to describe it. Maybe over-the-top would have been a better term.
There were balloons on every available surface. The cake ordered had its own zip code and was second in size only to the massive banner hanging on the wall behind the table.
I was pretty sure this thing was bigger than our graduation, which was only a year ago. All of my family had flown in for this, as well as most of our former high school classmates. They all wanted to see the Willard twins celebrate getting one year older.
Well,twin.
“Happy birthday, Calvin!” my parents called as he walked through the door.
Everyone else followed. I’d walked in a few minutes ago and had a few people stop to congratulate me, but it was obvious who all of this was for.
Calvin was the golden child, the one Mom and Dad poured all of their energy into. He thrived whenever all of their attention was focused on him, and I did okay fading into the background.
His straight As, endless girlfriends, and vibrant social life spoke for themselves. I was doing fine just getting on the honor roll. But having a social life? Impossible.
Earlier, I’d asked Mom if this party was forhimor for us. She insisted that we were both being celebrated. She even showed me that my name was on the cake.
Under Calvin’s, of course.
But it was nice that I was even on it.
“And Amy!” Mom added, pointing over to me. Eyes turned, and I had to resist the urge to look away from Calvin’s near glare when his head swiveled with the rest.
The attention didn’t last, though, because Calvin insisted we cut the cake. I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or disappointed to have been passed over so quickly.
I didn’t do well with attention, especially when it was taken from Calvin. Neither did he. My brother was as prone to jealous rages as he was at being perfect in all other aspects of his life.
Mom and Dad told me it was best that they focus on him to keep the peace.
I tried to be okay with it. And I would be.
I had my one friend, Ava, who I’d even invited here today. I met her on the first day of college, and I’d always kept my brother’s identity a secret, determined to have a friend of my own. I was pretty sure she liked me now and would stick by my side rather than run to Calvin’s as everyone else had.
The fact that she’d even come to the party without me having to mention Calvin’s name spoke volumes.
That had never happened before, but I desperately hoped it would continue.
She arrived right after my shout-out, eyes wide as she searched for me. I waved her over, ready to introduce her to everyone I knew.
“Hey,” she said quietly. “Happy birthday. I got you a card.”
“Thank you,” I said, opening it immediately. She’d signed it with a happy face and her name.
And had addressed it only to me.
I looked up at her, about to ask if she’d like to meet my little sister, who was heading over to us as we spoke.
But her eyes were on the crowd.
“I also got your brother one,” she said. “Where is he?”
A lump formed in my throat.
“You know I have a brother?”