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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Kelton

Last night was a good night. I don’t normally hang out with Jerry. We generally keep things professional. But after the ass print on the window fiasco, we ordered pizzas and sat around cracking jokes. Emerson spent most of the evening with a red face, but me, I loved every minute of it.

But waking up this morning with the realization that Liz and Emerson fly out tonight heading back to Chicago, cripples me. I’ve loved having them here, because at night when I’m home the place doesn’t feel so empty.

It’s not just the fact that I have her in my bed with me, warm and cuddled up, her ass pressing back against me. It’s not the sex, though that has felt earth shattering. It’s more the comfort they offer, the family and the laughs.

“What’s rolling around in your head?” I glance back over my shoulder as my sister enters the kitchen. Her hair is wild from sleep, still wearing the wildest footie pajamas, like she is ten years old.

“Is that supposed to be a unicorn?”

She reaches back, pulls up the hood and there in the center is a fucking horn.

“Yep.” She smiles, pouring herself a cup of coffee. “I also have Cookie Monster, Shrek, and the Grinch for the holidays. But when I’m feeling rebellious I wear him in the summer months too.”

“Aren’t you a little too old for footie jammies?”

“Never too old,” she says, taking the seat at the table opposite mine. “Plus they are cozy and I don’t have anyone to wear nighties for. However I was hoping that Jerry got the hint and stayed over last night. I brought one sexy panty set he’d be so worth pulling that out for.”

“Do you seriously have to keep talking about banging my agent?”

She shrugs, lifting her cup up to cover her smile. “He’s very yummy.”

I shiver, she laughs harder and I glance toward the hallway. “Chicago isn’t terribly far away.” It’s almost like Liz can read my mind. “It’s not like Alaska.”

“It’s too far,” I confess. “Knoxville Tennessee would be too far and that is in the same state.”

“So what are you going to do about it?”

“What am I supposed to do? She has a life, she has school and a place with you.”

“There are schools here, and you have that big ole house with plenty of rooms.” I stare at my sister and she stares back.

“I’m just saying maybe the time for making excuses is over.

You’ve already lost more than two years doing that exact thing.

Both of you have been using that time trying to fill a void and you both come up empty every single time. ”

“I don’t need to hear about how Emerson has been with other guys trying to erase me.”

“You are such an idiot sometimes.” She rolls her eyes. “She tried once, it backfired. She came home crying like she’d somehow betrayed you and since then the only action that girl has gotten requires batteries.”

Is she trying to tell me…

“She’d rather get herself off than be with any other man than you.” She finishes my thought just as Emerson steps out of the bedroom and freezes where she stands.

“Isn’t that right, babe,” Liz hollers like she has no shame that she just spilled her best friend’s secrets. “I was just bringing Kelton up to speed on how we’ve taken stock in

Energizer since you burn through those batteries.”

My sister is just like Gran, if she is thinking it, everyone knows.

“Hey wait.” She slaps the table so hard I jump. “Maybe you should do some promo for Energizer. You could get her a lifetime supply for free as part of your endorsement deal."

I shouldn’t, but how can I not smile. My sister could be so full of shit on most days. This, right here, I’ve missed so much.

“I’m going to shave your head when you sleep.” Emerson moves further into the kitchen and actually reaches out for my sister, grabbing hold of the horn on her hoodie.

“I’d look hot bald.” Liz laughs and all I can do is watch this unfold.

My older sister is missing out. She is more like our dad, but Alizabeth, she is my mother through and through. Everyone says her and I took after my mom. Maybe that’s why our father has a hard time being with us long. We make him miss her more.

This goes on for a while until they are both on my kitchen floor laughing hysterically.

Liz looks over at me, winks, and I know what this is. It’s another reminder of what it will be like without them here.

A reminder of how much I’ll fucking miss the chaos.