Sawyer saw us together, and it freaked her out.
She never wanted to be with me at all.
It was all just an act. A ruse. She used me for sex or fun or whatever it was she wanted, but when I told her I wanted to be with her for real, she took off.
But yeah, thanks, Rae. I’m going to have fun.
As I shower, I try to push Rae out of my head. Today is about Sarah. My sister. My family. The ones who really matter.
I dress and head to the airfield, where Willow is already in full-on preparation mode. Nadia and Esme are there, helping to arrange tables and chairs. The DJ is setting up.
A huge banner reads Happy Birthday, Sarah, and there’s a buzz in the hangar I haven’t felt before.
Willow sees me at the entrance, lifting an arm toward me. “Benji! Come help me move this table.”
I school my face to hide my bad mood and help her put the table and chairs in place. Willow lets out a sigh, staring at me expectantly.
“So? What do you think?”
“Looks great.”
“I just have the centerpieces to arrange, and then we should be pretty close to ready. I’m glad you went with just a buffet style food. The caterer will be here soon and it should be easy to set up.”
I nod, a lump forming in my throat.
Even though I’m mad, I miss Rae. Betrayal clouds my vision, but I wish she were here.
She’s not, though.
She left me with nothing more than a phone call and a box of fucking store-bought cookies. Went off to collect a free house that her parents handed out, leaving her siblings behind here with me.
I scoff, shaking my head.
I can’t believe I fell for it.
Willow appears beside me again, rattling off plans and timing for Sarah’s arrival. I grunt, nodding, trying my best to focus.
Today should be about Sarah, but all I can think about is Rae. Everything she said was all a lie. She didn’t want to be here at all.
Sawyer’s car pulls up outside and I walk out to direct him to the back of the hangar. He rolls his window down and I explain, “We don’t want a bunch of cars here when I drive up with Sarah later.”
“Ah.” He nods, grinning. “Of course.”
His smile looks like Rae’s. My chest constricts. I shake my head to dispel the thought.
She left. I need to accept that.
I take a deep breath and follow Sawyer to the back of the building, watching him park in a free space. He gets out of his car and strides toward me, his smile slipping ever so slightly.
“You okay, Benji?” He glances over my shoulder. “Where’s Rae?”
My eyebrows jump up. She didn’t even tell Sawyer? How can she pretend to be all about family when she didn’t even tell her brother she was going down to Houston?
I scoff, shaking my head. “Your parents beckoned her, and she scuttled back to meet them.”
Sawyer frowns. “What? When?”
“Last night.”
“She’s in Houston right now?”
I nod.
“But she knew this party was happening today.”
I pinch my lips, swallowing down my bitterness. “Yep.”
“Why?”
“Something about the house. They’re signing it over to her so they can leave the country.”
Sawyer’s eyes widen, and I just nod.
“Yeah,” I say.
“What the fuck?”
“I know.”
Emotions flash across my best friend’s face. Confusion. Hurt. Betrayal. Anger. I know them all—I’ve felt them all over the past twelve hours or so.
Finally, Sawyer’s face settles, and he swings his eyes back to me. “Forget about it. Let’s just focus on today. You’ve done a beautiful thing for your sister, Benji. She’s going to love it.”
I grunt in response, not knowing what to say. It feels empty now. The party. The celebration. The tablecloths and food and drinks and banners. The surprise.
How can I have fun when I know Rae isn’t the person she pretended to be? I let myself feel things I didn’t think were possible. I let myself hope the future would be bright.
I let myself believe that someone wouldn’t turn around and abandon me.
Guess I was wrong.
As the morning drags on, my eyes always move to the hangar’s entrance. All our friends trickle in, and every time I see movement near the door, hope flames in my chest.
Maybe Rae will come back?
But it’s never her. As time marches onward, I know I’m being ridiculous. She’s not here, and she’s not coming back.
I wipe the scowl off my face and try to appear happier than I feel. It’s empty, though. When the time comes, I head off to go pick Sarah up, knowing that Oliver will have her ready at the house. Oliver, me, Sarah, and the kids will head back here for the big surprise.
As I drive across town and park in front of Sarah’s house, my heart squeezes painfully.
Rae should be here.
I don’t care what she says. I don’t care what excuse she gives.
She should have stayed.
Oliver opens the front door and flashes a smile at me. My brother-in-law is a good man, and he treats my sister right. He was thrilled about this party, and he gives me a firm handshake.
“She has no idea,” he whispers, smiling.
I force my lips to curve up, nodding. We gather the kids together and pack them into their car seats, Oliver driving their family car behind mine as we head toward the airfield.
I should be excited. Anticipation should be curling in the pit of my stomach, and I should be hardly able to contain myself, but I feel empty. Even as we park the cars and head toward the hangar. Even as I open the door and usher Sarah inside. Even as every one of our loved ones pops up from behind pieces of furniture and yells, Surprise!
It’s not enough to fill the hole in my chest.
I paint a smile on my miserable features, hugging Sarah as she soaks my shirt with happy tears. She laughs, beaming at everyone assembled, and the party starts.
My father walks up with his
