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I didn't think it was possible for his smile to grow any bigger. But Rex grins as he leans down. "Of course. What's your name, kid?"
I look at Birdie. "Tell Rex we will swing back by. We're going to look for the best ride and eat some fair corn dogs."
Birdie gives me a firm smile. "Do I look like his secretary?"
Raising my hands, I shake my head. "Fair point."
"It was really nice to meet you, Birdie. I'm sure I'll see you around." Pearl clasps her hands, giving Birdie a warm smile.
It's like Pearl has flipped Birdie’s switch. Sav’s sister is suddenly all platitudes. "So nice to meet you. I'll tell Sav I ran into you. She's supposed to meet me here at some point. She's watching my son Dex for the afternoon."
"Please do."
With that, we step back, allowing the crowd to swallow us up. I let out a long sigh.
"What?" Pearl asks. She starts heading toward the back of the carnival. I follow her, rubbing my neck.
I shrug. "Rex just gets to me sometimes."
She slows down, peering at me. "What do you mean?"
"Ah." I scrunch my face up. "He's just hard to be around when he's around anyone outside our family. It's like he has to turn on the charm or something. It's exhausting just to watch."
"Yeah? Has he always been like that?"
"Yep. Pretty much. There is a huge people pleaser inside that mountain of smarmy good looks. I love him, and he'll always be my brother. But he's so incredibly tightly wound. He's going to explode one of these days."
Pearl takes my elbow as we give a couple with their toddler in full meltdown mode a wide berth. She puts her head on my shoulder and hugs my arm in a comforting gesture. "That must be hard."
I snort. In a sarcastic, singsong-y voice, I say, "It's just part of being one of the Billion Dollar Bennetts."
"Yeah? I have to imagine that growing up in Rex's shadow made you feel... less visible."
I make a face. "That's one way to put it."
"How would you say it, then?"
I look down at her, a trace of a smile on my face. "It wasn't that bad. I've lived a privileged life."
She pats my arm and purses her lips. "Just because Rex is too nice to be mad at doesn't mean that you're not still mad all the same. Like... when I was a kid, my dad died in a work accident. He was a firefighter and he died fighting a house fire."
"Whoa." I pull her to the side of the bumper cars, out of the relentless foot traffic. "Are you for real?"
She nods. "Yep. My dad died a hero. But just because he died heroically doesn't mean he didn't leave us behind. It didn't help me to know that he died saving lives. Just because you understand, or champion, someone's reasons for doing something, does not mean that action can't still hurt you."
I stare down at Pearl. Her brown eyes probe mine.
"Shit." I shake my head. "I'm sorry I even complained. My petty jealousy is dwarfed by your... your catastrophic loss.
She wrinkles her nose. "Thanks, I guess. But that's not really the point I was making."
I cup her face. "I feel sorry for your dad."
Her brows knit. "I've never heard anyone say it quite like that."
"Really? He didn't get to see you grow up into an independent, smart young woman. I think that merits some pity."
Pearl's look of shock would be comical if the moment weren't so serious. She looks away, clearing her throat. Tears shine in her eyes, but they don't dare fall. She has her emotions too well-controlled for that.
