Starting With You

50. A Ross and Rachel break thing.

Jensen

SUTTON: I'm outside.

SUTTON: I'm coming up.

SUTTON: I'm here. Let me in.

I open my door to find my sister, to-go coffee cups in each hand, eyebrows raised.

"Gonna let me in?"

I take the offered coffee, stepping aside for her to walk in. "You know you don't have to announce your every move with texts, right? How'd you even text with full hands anyway?"

"I'm a woman." She says this like it's an actual explanation.

"Well aware of that fact. Still doesn't answer the question, though."

I follow her through the apartment, where she sits on the couch, tucking her legs under her. I fall down next to her, taking a sip of coffee.

"J, do you really want to discuss the well-known fact that women are far superior to men at pretty much all things, or shall we move right along to why I'm here?"

"I kind of want to avoid whatever it is you're about to yell at me for and skip right ahead to the part where you're hugging me goodbye."

She flicks me in the forehead before I can block her. Either she's gotten faster or I'm off my game. I should have seen that one coming. It's been her go-to move since she was a bratty grade schooler.

She laughs when I glare at her. "Always such a ball of sunshine."

"Sutton." I arch an eyebrow to punctuate my impatience.

"This could have been a quick text convo, but you've been ignoring me. So here I am." She sweeps her arm out for emphasis.

When my only response is a grunt, she discards her cup on the coffee table, turning her body to face me. "Spill, brother. What's got your undies in such a wad? And don't say nothing because I'm not stupid. You're moodier than usual. Teddy was shooting tequila last night. You guys are pretty much never together anymore." She pauses to gesture around my empty apartment. "Case in point. It's Sunday. Where's your girl, J? Wasn't she practically living here like a week ago?"

Scout lifts his head from his nap in the pool of sunlight on the floor, notices the newcomer, and instantly springs to life, trotting across the room to greet my sister. Sutton pats her lap, and the dog jumps up, assaulting her face with kisses. Laughing, she pushes him down, settling him more comfortably on her lap, lazily petting his fur.

Sighing, I fall back, my head resting against the back of the couch. "I'm getting my shit together."

When I don't elaborate, she waves her hand in a circular motion, prompting me for more. "What does that mean? Are you guys doing a Ross and Rachel break thing? And what shit? I'm going to need more words, brother. I'm pretty freaking awesome, but not even I can make sense of those few words."

I throw an arm over my face with a groan. "Sutton," I whine. "Why are you like this?"

She peels my arm off, getting in my face. "Because I'm your sister and it's practically my job. So spill. Because I'm not leaving until you do."

"Fine. But only because you're annoying and I want you to leave."

I sit up and run a hand over the scruff of my unshaven face, blowing out a breath. "It's a few things, really. I'm not sure where to start."

"Caroline. Start there."

I shoot my sister a hard look. "How about I do it my way? And you zip it?"

She mimes zipping her lips and I shake my head at her.