Page 95 of Hard Rock Love

Her grimace twisted into something more pleading.

“You’re going to get hurt.” Her voice was calmer now, as if she were trying to appeal to me with reason.

“Then I’ll get hurt,” I said. “Won’t be the first time.”

Everly’s eyes flashed with pain before resignation seeped into her expression.

“You always were the mature one,” she muttered.

“Not always.”

I thought of all the times I’d been jealous or insecure. Those were sure signs of immaturity.

“You’ve always had such a good head on your shoulders,” Everly said with a sigh. “Sometimes I wished I had as much good sense as you.”

“Good sense?” I repeated. “Are you talking about the right sister?”

“Abby, you've always been the reasonable one,” she said. “Whenever I get myself into a mess or when I’m reacting too emotionally, you always talk me down. I’ve always been envious of that.”

I nearly snorted, then stopped, actually paying attention to her words.

“You were envious of me?” I asked.

“Of course I was,” she said. “I was a goddamn mess half the time, and there you were, head down and focused. You’re so steady. Whenever I got stressed out or upset, you were always there to help calm me down, to talk me through it. I can always count on you, even when I’m being a dumbass.” She huffed out a sardonic laugh. “I guess that’s why you get along with Seth so well.”

“I never saw myself that way,” I said. “I was always jealous of you. You had these big dreams, all this passion. You were so cool, living this amazing life. And I just stayed at home and studied.”

“You did the smart thing,” she said. “Everyone knows music is a long shot. A really big long shot. But getting into college so you can get a good job, that’s smart. It’s admirable. You’ve got such a bright future ahead of you. You can do whatever you want. You can be whoever you want.”

“For the longest time, I wanted to be you,” I admitted.

“And sometimes I wanted to be you,” she said with a small smile.

If any of the resentment I had felt for my sister still hid in the depths of my heart, her declaration melted it away completely.

“If you agree I’ve got a good head on my shoulders, then can you trust me to know what I’m doing?” I asked her.

“With you and Seth?” Her mouth pursed, that disgruntled expression returning. “I hate that you lied to me.”

“Can you blame me?” I asked, waving my hand around to encompass the entire situation we’d found ourselves in.

Everly lifted her eyes to the ceiling and closed them. She took a deep breath, then let it out.

“Let me talk to Seth first,” she said.

“Why? Can’t you take my word for it that we’re happy together?”

“Because,” Everly’s eyes flashed dangerously, “before I give my blessing, I want to know his intentions towards my little sister.”