Everywhere, Everything. ★ STURNIOLO TRIPLETS

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

For a short while, the boys and I laid in the dark talking. Every once in a while Chris would say something that would prompt Nick to smack him. This time it was asking about my siblings.

"All I asked was do you know anything about them!" Chris defended. The headboard behind him thwacked heavily against the wall as he shifted in bed. "I didn't know that was rude."

My arm had gone numb from being under my head too long. Pins and needles throbbed up and down my left side as I rolled onto my other to face Matt. Gentle red light from the alarm clock silhouetted his profile just enough to see shadows catching on the hollows of his features. He lolled his head towards me.

"Considering I've never met them," my eyes lingered on Matt's face, "no, I don't know much."

That wasn't completely untrue. What I did know was about as much as anyone else who knew how to work Google. When I'd found Mark on Facebook, I'd of course found his children. And of course, proceeded to cyber stalk them until I felt bad about myself.

"What are their names?" Nick asked.

Involuntarily, my hand balled into a fist around the comforter; I took a breath before answering. "Mallory and Jacob."

Mallory's graduation photos were my first introduction to her. Mark had posted an endearing slideshow of her valedictorian speech. The pictures captured her standing behind the podium with the warm June sun reflecting off her burgundy cap and gown, her chestnut hair falling effortlessly in loose waves across her shoulders. She was positively glowing. And to twist the knife further, our father captioned the post with "always Daddy's little girl."

I reread that line until my eyes swam. Then, proceeded to spend the rest of that night - okay, week - obsessing over our differences.

Which, trust me, was just about everything.

"Jacob's the youngest." I pinched the comforter tighter between my fingers. "He seems a lot less preoccupied with their lifestyle."

"What do you mean?" Chris probed.

Jacob was a typical fifteen year old boy from what it seemed. A three sport athlete playing baseball, football, and basketball. Hung out with the same tight-knit group of friends. Reposted mediocre memes on his Instagram story. Unlike his sister, he didn't spend his time trying to build a social media brand for himself or his parents' business.

Bitterness was more than a bit apparent in my tone. "Mallory seems-" what was the right word?

"Like a bitch?" Chris suggested.

"Christopher!" Nick shrieked. This time Chris was prepared for the smack and managed to catch Nick's hand before it made contact with his chest.

"Again," Chris emphasized, dropping Nick's arm back on his side of the bed, "I am asking."

Inappropriate laughter bubbled up in the back of my throat. I swallowed it. I wouldn't have used such a harsh word, but it wasn't too far off.

"I wouldn't say that," my foot bumped Matt's and I let it stay, "but she definitely gives Macie vibes."

"Who the hell is Macie?" Nick clucked.

"That girl who recognized me in town," Chris clarified, his tone flippant.

"Care to elaborate?" Nick pried.

"Yeah, Nat," Chris jeered, "care to elaborate?"

I shouldn't have said anything. "She's just -"

"Confident?" Chris interjected.