Chapter twenty-eight
Rylee
I can’t let her down.
“H i, sissy. Are you okay?” I push myself up from the floor and climb onto my bed.
“Oh my God! I got my package! I LOVE everything. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!” She screams my ear off.
I laugh, adjusting against my pillows, feeling lighter just hearing her voice. “You’re welcome. You said your old ones were getting tight, so I figured it was time for an upgrade. Hope I got the right size.”
“They’re perfect! I can’t wait to wear them to skating class tomorrow.”
My chest warms at her excitement. I remember when she first told me she wanted to skate. She was eight, so excited, and I promised I’d support her no matter what. I enrolled her in skating classes and scheduled Uber rides to take her there, even if I couldn’t take her myself. Then I made sure she had enough money for bus passes when she was old enough to take the bus.
“Good. Don’t forget about me when you become a world-famous figure skater.”
“You’re joking, right? I could never forget about you.”
I swallow against the lump in my throat. “I also put some extra money on your card. Just in case you need a new bus pass or wanna grab something to eat.”
“Thank you. You’re seriously the best sister ever.”
“You’re not too bad yourself.” I laugh.
The silence stretches between us. It’s not awkward, just comfortable. I sit up, pressing my back against the headboard.
“How’s everything at home? With Mom… and her boyfriend?”
A pause. Too long. My stomach knots.
“ It’s… okay. They’ve been in a good mood lately.”
I exhale slowly, pressing a hand to my forehead. I want to believe her. But I know better. She’s good at keeping things to herself just like me. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” she whispers.
If I push too hard, she might shut down. “You know you can tell me anything, right? If something’s wrong… if you ever need me—”
“I know.”
I nod, even though she can’t see me. “Okay. Just making sure.”
Another pause. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too, Lunita.” I roll onto my back, staring at the ceiling, trying to ignore the ache in my ribs. On the other end, Luna yawns. I smile, even as my heart aches.
“Go get some sleep, okay?”
“Okay. Love you, sissy.”
“Love you, too.” I place my phone on the pillow beside me as my eyes return to the ceiling, the weight of it all pressing into my chest.
I just hope she’s really okay.
The room is quiet, but my mind isn’t. My fingers dig into the sheets as I shift onto my bed, still remembering. His touch, his lips, the way he felt against me. It felt too good. Too much. My body betrays me, still humming with the aftershocks, still craving more.
No. Whatever happened earlier can’t happen again. It won’t happen again.
“You’re seriously the best sister ever.” Her words echo in my head.
I can’t let her down. I won’t.