t? If so, someone needs to share the four-one-one with all of us. Pictures are,

it, Ivy? You've been back in town for about t

h as I do. Whenever I'm home in the evening, I somehow find myself out here when the sun is setting. I love watching all the varying shad

tely, is not th

you stil

nt to find some time to get together with you guys." I think we all know this one is a whopper of a lie. As much as I love my dad, I have

ey, that s

necessary to be included in everything we do. It's annoying to deal with her in order to have a relationship with my dad. It's like she can't bear to be left out even though she's with

apartment?

forty-inch TV which Dylan promptly bought an Xbox for. I almost shake my head. Right there should have been my biggest tipoff that he would be, for the most part, shacking up

rea? I know you have

nvolvement. I think I can handle living at Barnett again. "It's perfectly safe. Our apartment is two blocks from campus and my job is about

d everything is worki

d living abroad for almost a year and a half has only made it more so. Just as I'm racking my

st turn you

sn

guys who live next to us." Stepping toward the edge of the tiny space, I lean over the black iron

's certai

oing, Dad, I still have some work to finish up." Since it's Friday night, I don't plan on doing anythin

excited to hear all about your apartment and trip to Par

Even though I know I'll have to plan a trip home at some point, my s

. A moment later, Lexie sticks her head out

the tight knit family we once were. And that's a bitter pill to swallow on the best of days. Having t

ust have gotten together almost immediately after Mom passed away. And once Dad sat m

gave Leah muc

iously...h

think about was how she slid unwantedly into our gri

ss café-style table, I shrug as if it'

mom got sick in eighth grade. And she was there to comfort me when Mom died the summer before my sophomore year. She was als

h her family if I could have, but Dad wouldn't allow it. So, I was stuck living with him, his baby

oth he and Leah walk around with their heads up their asses and I'm the fly in the ointment that refuses to go along with it. I

with compassion. "Ever

land." I give her a mocking smile that feels br

arms across her ample chest. "Is he coming here for a vis

im I'd check my schedule and get b

rts. "Do you actually have any intent

pop the P

ost too big for our teeny tiny balcony before pulling out a chair and throwing herself down. Gently she says, "Mayb

. When I'm finally able to wrap my lips around the words, they sound all rough and gravelly. "Are you really saying that to me?" Sh

k, you know how much I loved your mother. She was like a mom to me, too. What your father did sucked big time. There's no question about it. And

egin to forgive him, Lex?" Even though it feels impossible, I force out the words. "It's like he didn't care about m

t's something the two of you need to talk about. Maybe it's time to fin

imagine just such a conversation. Instead of entertaining the idea, I

ixing what is broken between us. Dad obviously doesn't give a sh

conversation when Dylan leans around

a sister from another mister, I'd be jealous of just how into her Dylan seems

ng with a sassy smile in return

we've once again vee