Page 14 of Buckin' Around

“Chlo, I’ll talk to him, okay? But you have to promise me you’ll be safe at this dance if you get to go. And you have to promise me that you will be mature about this if we can’t come to an agreement. Okay?”

She huffs a sad sound and dips her head. “Fine. How many more days til you come home?”

I chuckle. “You know this, baby. I’ll be back before Christmas. It’s only one year, then the rest of our lives are set up.”

“I know, I remember everything you planned. It’s just...”

“It’s what, Chlo?”

Her chin wobbles, and she flicks her gaze from the screen. “I-it’s so much harder than I thought it would be with you gone.”

Her sobs fill the quiet space around me, and I can’t hold back my own tears. “I know, kiddo, but Deccy will take care of you. I know he will.”

She rolls her eyes and swipes at the flow of tears the motion brings.

“Hey,” I say, leaning into the camera. “The time will pass so quick. Besides, you will be busy with school and Danny.” I wink at her.

She scoffs a strangled laugh.

“How’s Connor getting on with the animals by himself?”

“He found a backpacker to help. It’s going okay, I think. She sleeps in your room, Riles. It’s weird.”

“As long as you’re all alright, that’s all that matters, hey?”

“The animals miss you.”

“I bet. Tell me more about this backpacker? Where are they from?”

Chloe tells me all about the girl from Texas who is helping our brother with the farm in exchange for room and board. My eyes grow heavy as she moves on to what our twin sisters, Elouise and Lizzy, have been up to. Both seniors in high school now, they are so busy with their extracurriculars that I’m glad Declan is running things while I’m away.

Homesickness descends in waves, and I have to say goodbye before I have our littlest sister in tears again.

“Night, Riles. I miss you, and I love you so much.”

Her chin wobbles. My cue to go.

“Night, Chlo. Love you too, baby.”

She kisses her palm and presses it to the screen.

I return the gesture and tap the hang-up button.

Night, baby girl.

God, I miss my family something fierce.

The loud knock on the door startles me from my studies and I jump, sending the desk rocking. I snap a hand onto it, managing to grab my coffee mug before the lukewarm liquid spills over my notes.

It takes me a second to realize it’s probably Stacey’s brother, here for his hat. I rise from the chair, letting my stiff body clunk its way to upright as I call out, “Coming.”

It’s then I remember I’m in only my leggings and sports bra after a short stint at the campus gym early this morning to blow off some steam. To get my head in the game for a subject that I loathe. Economics.

I rush from my room, heading for the sofa where I left my sweater.

Messy bun in true disarray from worrying my hand through it over the math that is doing my head in, my vision is occluded with dark strands.

I slam into something hard.