Chapter 2 #2
I’ve been here for approximately five minutes, and I’m already breaking my big sister rules.
“Okay. Okay. Okay,” I repeat, and Fia furrows her brow, tracking my erratic movement with her eyes.
“I need a moment,” I say, smiling way too brightly as I jut my thumb over my shoulder. “I’m just gonna grab the rest of my stuff, okay?” I don’t wait for her to answer. I turn and clumsily step over my suitcase, speed-walking to my car.
Did I become an absent sister? Is this my fault? I’m supposed to keep an eye on Fia—Nan literally asked me to do so on her deathbed.
A wave of dizziness hits me as I pull more bags from my car.
My insides twist as I imagine my baby sister here, all alone in this big house, pregnant and heartbroken over a guy who’s MIA. I was so busy working, doing lord knows what, barely having time to call her back all fall semester.
Truthfully, I want to rush inside and hug her.
Pull her into my arms like I used to when we were kids and promise everything will be okay.
But instead, I stomp into the kitchen and unload the grocery bags on the counter while she watches me from across the room, a wounded look flickering behind her eyes.
“This isn’t exactly the Christmas greeting I was hoping for,” she mumbles, playing with the hair tie on her wrist.
“I’m sorry, Fi. I’m just…trying to wrap my head around this too. You kind of dropped a bomb on me.”
She shrugs, turning to grab a mug like we’re discussing the weather. “There’s not much to say. I’m having a baby. It wasn’t planned, but it’s going to be okay. I have a job, I only have one semester left—”
I wave my hand in the air. “You work at a coffee shop that barely pays above minimum wage. That might’ve worked while you were a student, but babies are expensive.
Your car is on its last leg, and this house is falling apart.
Not to mention there’s still one more semester between you and your degree.
” The words spill out before I can stop them.
No filter, no softness, just sharp-edge truth she needs to hear.
I wish I could hit rewind, take my words back, because the second they are out, Fia’s pale face goes still. She stares at me like I just kicked her.
“Penny, I’m not a child, I know what I’m dealing with.” She lifts her chin. “Can we just enjoy our holiday break? I don’t want to do this with you.”
“Do what?” My stomach grows hot, the unease crawling up my throat. I hate the way coming back to this place puts me on edge.
“Try to fix everything.” She sighs heavily, like a mom exhausted with their repetitive child. “I love you, Penny. But believe it or not, I can handle this. So please—for now—can we drop the house stuff and job pressure?”
My fingers curl against the green-tiled kitchen counter.
She has no idea what she’s saying. Fia has never had to worry about finances or a living situation.
This house is paid off, and Fia’s been living on her part-time coffee shop salary, plus the money in the trust from Nan.
But that’s going to burn up quickly the moment she brings a child into the world.
I hate to do it, but I pull the Nan card.
“She wouldn’t have wanted you to live like this, and you know it. She didn’t leave the house to trap us. I’d settle for renting it out, and you can live somewhere that makes more sense. You can even move to Raleigh and be near me.”
Her lips press into a hard line, fists clenched at her sides.
I open my mouth, ready to say something to smooth it over.
I should’ve taken care of this house issue a long time ago, but I thought giving her time to grieve Nan was the right thing to do.
Now it’s been two years, and I have to be the bad cop.
“I know you hate it here, Penny. But this is my home. And actually, I’ve figured out a way to pay for the repairs.”
“Okay, so what’s the plan?” I’m skeptical, to say the least.
“I have a roommate,” she says, her voice careful.
“Who?” I glance toward the connected living room, noticing a large dog bed on the floor in front of the fireplace. Great. “Did they already move in?”
Spending the holidays with a stranger sounds less than pleasant.
Fia plays with the tip of her braid. “Yeah…they moved in, but this isn’t how I wanted you to find out.”
“Find out what?”
Fia steps forward, arms resting over her belly, green eyes searching mine.
“I wanted you to be proud of me. I was going to tell you about the pregnancy once I secured a pay raise at the café, once finals were done, once I had a whole plan in place. But time is moving so fast.” She grimaces, and uneasiness washes over me.
Did she rent a room to some drifter?
“Who is it, Fia?” I ask again, this time slow and clear. My hands settle on my hips like armor.
Seconds go by, and my sister just gnaws on her bottom lip.
“Is it Danny?” I ask but catch myself, because that’s impossible. Danny is still in prison. I know the exact date he gets out—five months from now.
“No, it’s Jesse,” she finally whispers, and for a moment, everything goes numb. I couldn’t have heard that right. There has to be another Jesse.
But her face doesn’t waver.
My stomach flips, and I shake my head. “Fia…you didn’t.”
She nervously covers her mouth with her hand as she nods.
A wave of heat rises to my face. “How could you?”
I have to pause, remembering she doesn’t know the truth about our falling out.
Fia scoffs, her brows furrowed. “Penny, come on… It’s Jesse, not a stranger! He was your best friend and practically family! I don’t understand why you are acting like this is bad news?”
The room tilts a little, but I plant my feet.
“I know you two fell out of contact, but everything will be fine.” She offers me a cheerful smile. The same smile she gets when she’s patching holes in her thrifted jeans, like she can fix anything if she just tries hard enough.
But some things can’t be mended.
My mouth goes dry as the familiar squeak of the back door opens into the kitchen. Cold air rushes in, and I turn to look right into the green eyes of the man I never thought I’d have to see again.
He’s the reason I never came back.
The reason I don’t do relationships.
The reason I haven’t visited my twin in ten years.
He’s the only guy I’ve ever said I love you to.
The one who ripped my heart out of my chest and left me bleeding.
The one who became like a big brother to Fia.
Jesse Rivers.
And he’s looking at me like I’m a color he forgot existed.