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I can tell my mom feels it too, especially when she brings up her next question. “Have you heard from your brother?”
My mother and I have grown accustomed to talking about Isaac privately over the last ten years, so I know that if she were talking about Adam or Caleb, she would have called them by name. She’s asking about Isaac because while she has been in contact with him briefly, I am the one who talks to him the most.
“Last I heard, he was settling into his new apartment,” I say.
“He’s not alone today, is he?”
“I doubt it. He’s got his band and the guys at the record label.”
She doesn’t mention how Isaac has spent every holiday over the past decade without his family, so I don’t know how this one would be any different. Normally, he’d avoid Texas during the holidays altogether, I think, to avoid the temptation of joining his family when we’re all together. And on the rare occasions when he stayed home during the holidays, I would find a reason to skip my parents’ house and stay with him.
I would never deprive my mother of any part of her youngest son, but there is still a protective part of me that wants to put as much distance between all of them and him as I can.
“He’s so busy now,” she complains. “He used to call me more and send pictures, but now I get nothin’.”
“He’s not mad at you, Mom. He’s just dealing with a lot.”
“I know,” she mutters to herself. “I’m proud of him. I just miss him.”
Letting out a sigh, I realize just how much I miss him too. His dirty boots by the door. His Gatorade bottles on the floor. Hair products scattered in the bathroom.
“Oooh, sexy,” a voice calls from behind me. “Drop the towel.”
Spinning around, I stare wide-eyed at Sadie standing in my doorway.
“I’m on the phone with my mom,” I mouth angrily. Sadie snickers as she covers her mouth.
“Who was that?” my mom asks with excitement.
“No one,” I grit through my teeth, flaring my nostrils at Sadie.
“Sure,” my mom replies. “I’ll let you go then. See you at four.”
“See you at four, Mom.”
After hanging up the phone, I toss it on the bed, place my hands on my hips, and glare at Sadie.
“I’m in trouble, aren’t I?” she asks, putting her hands behind her back innocently.
“You know it.”
“Are you going to spank me?” she asks.
Sucking in through my teeth, my palms start to itch. I certainly didn’t anticipate getting into this today.
“Yes, I think I will,” I reply, taking a step toward her.
She’s dressed nicely in a knee-length dress that hangs over her full breasts and hides her stomach.
Twisting her mouth to the corner, she wears the bratty expression so well, as if she was made for this role.
“You’ll have to catch me first,” she replies before turning and sprinting down the hall.
“Oh, you brat,” I reply with humor in my tone. Taking off after her, I don’t run but stalk her menacingly. There aren’t a lot of places she can go, but when she reaches the living room, she’s laughing, a bright smile stretched across her face. Using the couch as a barrier between us, she dodges my advances.
A throw pillow flies toward my head as she nods toward the towel still tied around my hips.
“Drop the towel, and I’ll let you catch me.”
