Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
“Two months.” Hugh had been a massive mistake, an attempt to fill the void, an attempt to see if I could live without Nate. I pushed off the counter and walked out of the kitchen and into the dining room, connected to the living room. “And I thought you were taking this week as vacation? Stop interviewing me like I’m your latest story.”
“I’m not!” She hopped off the counter and followed me into the bedroom. “I just worry about you.”
That made two of us, but I couldn’t say that to her. I walked into my closet and stripped off the remains of my suit, opting for drawstring pajama pants and the hoodie Nate had given me for Christmas with some logo that represented his unit. “Thank you for taking the week to watch Tybee, by the way.”
“No problem. I legitimately had nothing better to do.”
I came out to find her lying across the expanse of my bed, staring up at the ceiling. “You don’t have to patronize me. I know how hard you’re working at that new paper.”
“Apparently not hard enough.” She sighed.
I lay down next to her. “Spill.”
“I didn’t get the assignment I wanted. They’re sending a more senior photojournalist.” Her voice lifted in an imitation of her boss. “But not to worry, I can keep covering the Hill until my time comes.”
“I’m sorry.” I kept my eyes on the blades of the ceiling fan above us so she wouldn’t see the lie in my eyes. That country had a death grip on the man I loved, and I wasn’t exactly chomping at the bit for it to get its hands on my sister too. “I know how badly you wanted to go.”
“I just want to cover something meaningful.” She laced her fingers over her rib cage.
“Afghanistan isn’t the only place to do that,” I said softly. “I’m sure lots of meaningful things happen on the Hill. It’s the seat of our government.” It was all I could think to say, and I knew it fell short of what she needed.
“You’d be amazed at how much there isn’t.” She turned her head toward me. “Senator Lauren’s bill failed again. It didn’t even get out of committee.”
My brow furrowed. “Remind me which one that is?”
“The one trying to set a withdrawal date from Afghanistan.”
“Oh.” I lifted my hand to cover my heart, like I could somehow rub the ache out of it. “That’s a shame.”
“Speaking of shame.” She rolled to face me, bracing her head on her hand. “How are Mom and Dad handling your choice of corporate law?”
“Hey!” I rolled my eyes. “I spend at least half my day handling the contracts for the nonprofits—”
“That the richest companies in New York have for tax purposes?” She laughed, then pressed her lips between her teeth when she caught my glare. “Okay, okay.”
“It’s only for a couple years. Just long enough to pay back Mom and Dad for law school.”
“Because you’re feeling guilty that you grew up privileged?” She cocked an eyebrow at me.
“Because I can’t take the constant guilt trips about not working in the best interest of the family,” I answered honestly.
“You know, Isa,” she said, slipping into her impression of our father, and I grinned. “You could do so much good for the family if you’d simply devote your entire life to making it legal for us to pay less taxes.”
“Something like that,” I laughed. “I just can’t take it anymore.”
“I get that. I’m barely covering that apartment in DC now that you’re gone, but I refuse to go to them for money.” She wiggled her finger toward my nose. “You could always move back to DC just for me, you know. Forget Mom and Dad. There are tons of corporate jobs there. You don’t have to take the political ones. Your room is so lonely without you.”
I scoffed. “Then get a roommate.”
“Valid point.” She glanced past me. “Any chance that your inability to see a relationship through has to do with the fact that you keep that picture on your nightstand?”
I didn’t need to look to know it was the picture of Nate kissing my cheek in Fiji. “I think it has to do with the fact that I pretty much keep him on the nightstand.”
She slowly brought her gaze back to mine. “I know that what you two share is . . . undefinable, but Izzy, how long can it go on like this? You here and him . . . everywhere?”
A boulder lodged itself in my throat. “Nate has his reasons.” That night in Fiji had scared him more than it had me, just not enough for him to go talk to someone about it. “And it doesn’t matter that I don’t agree with them. He won’t let me choose between my career and him. I can’t force him to choose between me and his career either. I don’t know how to let him go, Serena.”