weren’t that important, anyway. If you need me to stay, though, I will. I don’t mind either way since we haven’t really hung out since you got here.”
That was thoughtful of him to offer, but I didn’t need for him to halt his life to take care of me. He made it sound as if I were dying when, good grief, it was just an injured toe. An excruciating dilemma, but something I could very well tackle all by myself.
“Go and party for the both of us, Jacks. I don’t need a babysitter. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m all grown up. Thank but no thanks.”
He sent me a thoughtful smile. “I know you’re all grown and stuff, but you’re still my baby sister. Nothing will ever change that, little booger.”
Jackson was being sentimental, and I couldn’t help feeling this overwhelming over-protectiveness kick in out of nowhere. “Jacks, I know it’s none of my business, but aren’t you spending quite a lot of time with Yvonne and partying instead of school?”
“I know, but I just need to sort some stuff out.” He let out a tired sigh before leaning back against the cushion and shutting his eyes. “Yvonne’s great, but I’m not in love with her if that’s what you’re trying to get at. I’m just in a limbo, working on it.”
My brother sounded so lost. I wanted to reach out to him and give him a reassuring hug.
“I was told you go to Columbia; is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Care to tell me why?” It was a plea as much as it was a question.
“Drew had his future already mapped out. He had it all figured out. I thought, if I went to the same school, it would follow through for me, but it didn’t, Chlo. Each time I think about our life in Newport Beach, I always imagine that my life would be like theirs, and I don’t want that meaningless life, but I don’t know how to get where I need to be.”
He had never shared anything like this with me. It was bewildering to see him in such a state and feeling so helpless, and I couldn’t help him fix the root of his problem. He alone had to figure this out. It was up to him to see it through and never give up on his dreams, whatever they might be. Still, I had to know what was going on, and maybe talking about it would help him figure things out a bit.
“Is there something that’s holding you back?” I asked softly, hoping he would let me pick his brain a while until he shut himself off again.
“Have you ever hated someone so much you didn’t realize that, underneath all that hate, there’s love?”
I suddenly felt alarmed. Was he talking about me … or him? Then I realized he was speaking for himself after I saw his baffled expression.
“Is this about a woman? Is it Yvonne? Or someone else perhaps? Is it someone I know?” My unending string of queries most likely pressured him more, but I did it out of love … and curiosity. Who was the woman who affected him so much it had made him lose his way? It was damaging him, and if this kept on, what if it became too late to fix anything?
“It’s all bullshit. I don’t feel like talking about all of that.” He stood up and softly placed a kiss on my forehead. “I’ve gotta pack. I love you, Chlo. I know I don’t seem it, but I’m happy you’re here.”
“I love you, too, Jacks,” I murmured, watching him stroll back to his bedroom.
That last bit—that small exchange—made me somewhat tearful. Jackson was obviously going through an upheaval, and it was something huge. Call it growing pains or what of it, but it was affecting him more than he cared to admit. Worried would be an understatement.
It was beyond aggravating to see someone you love going through something life-altering when there was nothing to be done other than simply being there for them and praying the hurdle would soon pass.
Obviously, whomever this unknown person was, it surely wasn’t Yvonne. So who was it? Apart from her, I hadn’t seen him hang out with a female counterpart. I would have known if the woman
That was thoughtful of him to offer, but I didn’t need for him to halt his life to take care of me. He made it sound as if I were dying when, good grief, it was just an injured toe. An excruciating dilemma, but something I could very well tackle all by myself.
“Go and party for the both of us, Jacks. I don’t need a babysitter. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m all grown up. Thank but no thanks.”
He sent me a thoughtful smile. “I know you’re all grown and stuff, but you’re still my baby sister. Nothing will ever change that, little booger.”
Jackson was being sentimental, and I couldn’t help feeling this overwhelming over-protectiveness kick in out of nowhere. “Jacks, I know it’s none of my business, but aren’t you spending quite a lot of time with Yvonne and partying instead of school?”
“I know, but I just need to sort some stuff out.” He let out a tired sigh before leaning back against the cushion and shutting his eyes. “Yvonne’s great, but I’m not in love with her if that’s what you’re trying to get at. I’m just in a limbo, working on it.”
My brother sounded so lost. I wanted to reach out to him and give him a reassuring hug.
“I was told you go to Columbia; is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Care to tell me why?” It was a plea as much as it was a question.
“Drew had his future already mapped out. He had it all figured out. I thought, if I went to the same school, it would follow through for me, but it didn’t, Chlo. Each time I think about our life in Newport Beach, I always imagine that my life would be like theirs, and I don’t want that meaningless life, but I don’t know how to get where I need to be.”
He had never shared anything like this with me. It was bewildering to see him in such a state and feeling so helpless, and I couldn’t help him fix the root of his problem. He alone had to figure this out. It was up to him to see it through and never give up on his dreams, whatever they might be. Still, I had to know what was going on, and maybe talking about it would help him figure things out a bit.
“Is there something that’s holding you back?” I asked softly, hoping he would let me pick his brain a while until he shut himself off again.
“Have you ever hated someone so much you didn’t realize that, underneath all that hate, there’s love?”
I suddenly felt alarmed. Was he talking about me … or him? Then I realized he was speaking for himself after I saw his baffled expression.
“Is this about a woman? Is it Yvonne? Or someone else perhaps? Is it someone I know?” My unending string of queries most likely pressured him more, but I did it out of love … and curiosity. Who was the woman who affected him so much it had made him lose his way? It was damaging him, and if this kept on, what if it became too late to fix anything?
“It’s all bullshit. I don’t feel like talking about all of that.” He stood up and softly placed a kiss on my forehead. “I’ve gotta pack. I love you, Chlo. I know I don’t seem it, but I’m happy you’re here.”
“I love you, too, Jacks,” I murmured, watching him stroll back to his bedroom.
That last bit—that small exchange—made me somewhat tearful. Jackson was obviously going through an upheaval, and it was something huge. Call it growing pains or what of it, but it was affecting him more than he cared to admit. Worried would be an understatement.
It was beyond aggravating to see someone you love going through something life-altering when there was nothing to be done other than simply being there for them and praying the hurdle would soon pass.
Obviously, whomever this unknown person was, it surely wasn’t Yvonne. So who was it? Apart from her, I hadn’t seen him hang out with a female counterpart. I would have known if the woman
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