My sister a dentist my brother a doctor

Later that day

TAYLOR'S POV

The day was winding down, and everything felt oddly quiet as we waited for Austin to get home. Amelia and Joe had already returned, and the house was filled with that sort of tension you get when you know something's about to happen, but you're not sure exactly when. For me, the nerves were starting to build. I wasn't sure what was going to happen when Austin walked in, but I had this sinking feeling that we were going to be in trouble for skipping our appointments earlier. I couldn't help but feel like we'd made a mistake, even though I knew deep down we both just panicked. The door creaked open, and I heard Austin's voice as he stepped inside. I held my breath for a moment, trying to read his mood, but he didn't seem angry. He came into the living room with a look that was more sympathetic than anything, almost like he knew we were anxious about what was coming next.

"Hey, can I talk to you in the dining room for a sec?" he asked, turning toward Joe, who nodded and stood up to follow him.

I glanced at Selena, my stomach tightening with the weight of what was coming.

"You think he's mad?" I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I'm not sure," Selena replied, biting her lip. "He doesn't look mad, but we're definitely not off the hook. I bet we're going to the office tonight, whether we like it or not."

I nodded, feeling a pit form in my stomach. We both knew it was coming. Austin wasn't the kind of guy to let something slide, and if we'd skipped an appointment like this, he'd make sure we didn't get away with it. I just wished I could avoid whatever was about to happen. A few minutes later, Joe and Austin returned, and Joe sat down next to me, looking a little tense, but not furious. Austin sat beside Selena, and the air felt thick with anticipation.

"So," Joe started, his voice calm but direct, "why'd you skip your appointment today, Tay?"

I shifted uncomfortably.

"I don't know," I said, my voice small. "I just... panicked. I didn't really think it through."

Austin looked at us both seriously.

"It's not just about the appointment, though," he said, his tone more gentle now. "You've got to understand why it's important. You've been putting this off for a while, and it's not good for you to keep avoiding it. I need you both to take it seriously."

"I know," I mumbled, feeling guilty. "I just... I wasn't ready for it."

Austin gave me a sympathetic look before turning to Selena.

"He wants us to go now," Joe said softly, referring to Austin. "He's not mad, but he's insisting we make it happen today."

"I really can't do this right now," I replied, my voice shaky. "I'm not prepared, and I don't know if I can handle it."

"Tay," Joe said gently, taking my hand in his. "It's your brother. He's not going to hurt you. He just wants to make sure you're healthy. If he says it's important, then it is. You need to go get it done."

"I don't want to," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

The thought of facing whatever was at the office made my stomach churn. I just wanted to stay in the safety of my home, away from the looming checkups and medical procedures I was dreading.

Joe squeezed my hand tighter. "I know you don't, but I don't think you have a choice. I'll be right here with you, and so will Selena. We'll all do it together."

Before I could respond, Austin stood up, his expression firm but not unkind.

"Okay, it's checkup time," he said. "I know you're nervous, but this is important. I want you both to understand that I'm not doing this to punish you. I'm doing it because I care about you, and I want to make sure everything's okay. It's not about being mean; it's about taking care of yourselves."

There was no getting out of it now. I could see the resolve in Austin's eyes. He wasn't going to let us off the hook, and I knew he was doing what he thought was best, but that didn't make it any easier to face. I looked over at Selena, and I could tell she was just as nervous as I was. Without saying much, we both got up and followed Austin out to the car, feeling the weight of the situation pressing on us. Amelia had sent us a message in our group chat wishing us good luck, and it made me smile a little despite everything. She was so sweet, always so thoughtful, even when she knew we were about to do something we really didn't want to do. The ride to the office felt like it took forever. Every bump in the road seemed to make my stomach drop a little more. By the time we arrived, I could feel the anxiety tightening in my chest, my palms sweaty. I didn't want to be there, but I knew I didn't have a choice. Austin parked the car, and I sat there for a moment, just staring at the office building in front of me. This was it. It wasn't the end of the world, but it felt like it.