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“Is that why your car has been gone?” Lily asked.
“Um, no. I gave that to my sister, but that was before.”
“So, a lot’s happened. But the migraine—was it your first one?”
“No, it wasn’t. I tend to keep them to myself since it used to bother people that I had them.”
“Shouldn’t it botheryouthe most since you have them?” Riley asked.
“My family kinda sucks,” I said. “I’m trying to unlearn it since I feel terrible that Levi found out the way he did, but it’s hard.”
“Oh,” they both said at the same time.
“On that note,” Lily added after a while, “I hope you’re ready for me to be really annoying. If you disappear, I’m checking in on you.”
“I’m back on my medicine, so hopefully it’ll lessen them.”
“And I’ll be watching your caffeine intake too,” Riley said. “One a day. Maybe two if I’m feeling nice.”
“Come on, guys. You don’t have to worry too much about me.”
“We’re your friends,” Lily said. “Does this have something to do with Calvin?”
“Who’s Calvin?” Riley asked.
“My brother.” I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know if you saw it, but he tried to show up at the wedding ...”
“I saw some drama, but I was dealing with a meltdown from my youngest,” she replied. “Was he not invited or something?”
“No, he wasn’t. But neither he nor my parents listen. Still, a lot of people think he’s the better of the two of us. A lot of people use me to get to him.”
“First of all, that’s terrible. And second, what makes him better exactly?” Riley asked.
“He’s popular. Rich. Everyone loves him.”
“Everyone?” she countered. “How good of a person is he?”
“He’s terrible.”
“Does he have a good sense of humor?”
“Not really.”
“And does he have anyclosefriends?”
“I don’t know. I personally don’t wanna get close enough to find out.”
Riley wrinkled her nose. “Then he’s fake. And definitely not better.”
“Someone tell my parents that.”
“Parents sometimes pick a favorite,” Riley said. “My mom did, and it definitely wasn’t me. Thankfully, she came around, but I’m lucky. And even so, it did a lot of damage. The kind that I tried to hide.”
“I could see you doing that,” Lily said.
“Don’t let your brother make you feel like you’re not enough. Or walk all over you.”
“She doesn’t always let him walk all over her.” Lily turned to me. “You wanna tell her about the house?”