Chapter 5
five
SIXTEEN YEARS AGO
“Family meeting!” my mom’s voice carries up the stairs, interrupting my intense focus on the canvas in front of me.
I groan, setting down my paintbrush. I’ve been working on this painting for days, trying to capture the exact shade of blue where the lake meets the sky. Why do stupid family meetings always have to happen right when I’m in the zone?
“Coming!” I yell back, wiping my paint-stained hands on my already ruined jeans.
When I reach the living room, Logan’s already sprawled across the loveseat, dangling his long legs over the armrest. Mom and Dad are sitting on the couch with serious looks on their faces.
“What’s up?” I ask, flopping down next to my twin. “If this is about the broken window in the garage, I swear it was all Logan.”
“Hey!” My brother sits up, indignant. “It was your ball!”
“Kids,” my dad interrupts, tone clear he means business. “This isn’t about the window, though we will be discussing that later.” He gives us a pointed look. “We have something we want to discuss with you.”
Mom sighs. “It’s about Rowan.”
My stomach drops. Five years, and it still stings a little when someone says his name.
Suddenly alert, Logan sits up. Of course he cares. He’s been talking to Rowan on the phone regularly the whole time he’s been gone. Unlike me.
Dad clears his throat. “As you know, Rowan’s grandfather passed away a few months ago. Last week his grandmother died.”
“Is he okay?” I ask.
“As far as we know,” my mom answers softly. “But he’s alone now. He doesn’t have any other family.”
“And since he won’t be eighteen until the end of the school year,” Dad continues, “he still needs legal guardians.”
The pieces click together in my head even before my dad finishes speaking. My heart starts hammering against my ribs.
“Please tell me you’ve decided to let him come live with us,” Logan says.
“Yes, honey. He’s going to be staying with us,” my mom nods. “He’ll finish out his senior year here with you both at Lakeside High.”
His face lights up. “Seriously? That’s awesome!”
My eyes bounce between my parents and my brother as I twist my hands in my lap. “How did you find out? When did this get decided?”
“Logan brought up the idea a few days ago,” my dad explains. “We’ve been working with the authorities in Ireland, making the arrangements.”
When I glance over at Logan, he gives me a guilty shrug. He knew about this all this time and didn’t say anything? Seriously?
Shooting my brother a dirty look, I mouth traitor at him before I look at my mom. “When is he supposed to be here?”
“Tomorrow.”
Frozen in shock, all I can do is suck in a slow, calming breath. Tomorrow? My mouth goes dry as her words sink in.
“We’ll need to clean out the guest room,” she smiles. “It’s important for you to make him feel welcome, Lizzy. It’s been a difficult time for him. He’s been through so much.”
The guest room is down the hall, across from Logan’s, which is next to mine. Perfect.
“That’s so soon.” My voice sounds distant, as if it’s coming from another dimension, maybe even the freaking Twilight Zone.
My mom reaches over to squeeze my knee. “We know it’s sudden, honey. I’m sorry. We weren’t sure how you would take it.”
Logan’s practically vibrating with excitement from his place beside me on the couch. “This is gonna be awesome! Just like old times.”
But it won’t be just like old times. Not for me.
Even as my insides twist into a tangled knot of anger and hurt, I force my expression to remain neutral. Five years. Five years without a word. Not a letter, not a phone call. Nothing. And now he’s just... gonna move in?
“His flight lands at three p.m. tomorrow,” my dad declares. “Logan and I are going to pick him up from the airport.”
“You knew about this?” I ask Logan, doing everything I can to not scream the question in his traitorous face.
“Yeah,” he shrugs like it’s no big deal. Like he hasn’t been keeping a massive secret from me. “I wasn’t supposed to say anything. Not until we knew for sure.”
“Lizzy?” Mom is watching me with those knowing eyes of hers. “Are you okay with this? We wanted to make sure—”
“It’s fine,” I snap, cutting her off as I stand abruptly. “It’s your house. And Logan’s best friend needs help. Makes perfect sense.”
“He’s your friend too, Lizbeth,” my dad says gently.
“Was,” I correct before I can stop myself. “He was my friend.”
The room goes quiet and I can feel all three of them staring at me.
“Look,” I sigh, rubbing my temples. “It’s whatever. Still, it would’ve been nice to have a heads-up sooner than twenty-four freakin’ hours. I’ve got homework to finish.”
Before they can say another word, I turn and bolt up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time. I close my bedroom door behind me, sagging against it as I try to catch my breath.
What the actual fuck just happened?
Trudging over to my bed in a daze, I sit down and stare out the window in stunned silence.
What the hell am I going to do? Rowan Cole is moving back to Lakeside, and he’s going to be living with us. Sleeping in a room less than ten feet away from mine!
Flopping onto my bed, I bury my face in my pillow and let out a frustrated scream. Turning onto my side, a photo on my desk catches my eye. It’s a picture of me, Logan, and Rowan when we were ten years old I found in a box last year while spring cleaning my closet.
We’re standing in front of the treehouse, grinning like idiots, arms slung around each other’s shoulders. It was a great day. Dad had just finished building it, and we spent the entire afternoon playing pirates, fighting over who got to be captain of the castle and making each other walk the plank.
Scooting off the bed, I walk over and pick up the photo, tracing my finger over Rowan’s smiling face. He was such a happy kid back then. Before his parents died. Before everything changed between us.
“Lizzy?” My mom’s muffled voice comes from behind my door, followed by a gentle knock.
“I’m fine,” I call out, quickly shoving the photo under my pillow.
“Can I come in, honey?”
I sigh. “Sure.”
The door opens, and she steps inside. Eyes full of concern, she comes over to sit beside me on the bed. The comforting aroma of her familiar perfume hits my nose, instantly helping me to relax.
“I know this all comes as a shock,” she says softly. “But Rowan has been through so much. He needs us right now.”
“I get it,” I mutter, twisting my fist in my comforter. “I just... why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?”
Mom tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Logan only brought it to our attention last week, and we weren’t sure if it would even be possible. The international paperwork, becoming his legal guardians... We didn’t want to upset you if it fell through. We also didn’t expect it to happen so fast.”
I nod and stare out the window. “Does he even want to come back here? To live with us?”
“Logan says he does.” She pauses, studying my face. “Honey, I know you two had some kind of falling out before he left, but—”
“It wasn’t a falling out,” I snap, immediately regretting my tone. “Sorry. It’s just... he cut himself off from me completely. Logan got phone calls and emails, but I got nothing.”
“Maybe this is a chance to clear the air? Ask him why he chose not to keep in contact with you?” Her eyes are full of hope, which makes me feel guilty and selfish for freaking out.
“Yeah, maybe.” I force a smile I don’t feel. “I should get back to my homework.”
She kisses my forehead. “Try to get some sleep too, honey. Tomorrow’s going to be a big day.”