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Zach
Me: Where are you?
Genie: Out with Andrea.
Me: When are you coming home?
Genie: An hour or so.
Me: Hurry up!!!!!
I waited for her, staring at the bottle of rye. As much as it would have literally made me sick to have just a sip of it, I wanted to drink. It dawned on me that this is how people dealt with stress. Booze, maybe drugs. Sometimes both. I couldn’t be that person. I had to deal with this, I had to keep my head focused. I needed my sister’s help. She got home to find me pacing the apartment. Once she saw me, she rushed over. I looked a mess.
“Did something happen? Are Mom and Dad okay?” she asked, her face etched with worry.
My cheeks were flushed and my body was vibrating. “No. It’s Emma.”
“Is she hurt? Zach, what the hell is going on?” There was so much panic in her voice.
“She left. I don’t know if she’s coming back. I’m fucking losing it right now.”
She placed her hands on my shoulders. “Take a few deep breaths. What happened?”
“Fucking Bianca! Emma came home and she wanted to see the video. I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn’t let it go. I should have lied and said I didn’t have it, but I gave it to her. She watched it. Genie, she’s gone!”
She brought her hands to my face and stared in my eyes. “You have to calm down. Don’t jump to the worst possible conclusion. Okay? First of all, you are going to tell me exactly what’s on the video.”
I was hyperventilating now and thought I might lose it. I took a few halting breaths and calmed myself a bit. I then told her the contents of the video. She listened, revolted and irritated but trying not to show it.
“Where is the video now?” she asked, using her most comforting tone even though she wanted to castrate me.
“She took it. She was so mad and I could see how much she hated me. That she was so disgusted with me. I should have gotten rid of it, Genie. I should have listened to you. Why did I keep it?”
“I don’t know. What possessed you to keep something like that? Never mind. How did she leave things with you?”
“She didn’t say much of anything. She took off and that was it.”
“She’s probably upset. I’m sure it was a lot to see. She likely needs some time to process everything. She loves you and you love her. This was something you did when you were very stupid. When the haze clears, I’m sure it will be all right. Do you want me to call her?”
“I don’t know,” I said, collapsing onto the sofa. “I don’t know what to do. I tried texting and calling her, but she won’t respond. What if she doesn’t come back?”
“She’ll be back. She probably went to a place she trusts. Maybe the tennis club?”
She regretted those words the moment they left her mouth. Typical Genie, suffering from foot-in-mouth disease. My body went rigid.
“Great. She’s with Ben Morrow,” I said bitterly.
“Don’t worry about him. He’s not exactly a fuzzy teddy bear. Emma won’t want anything to do with him.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am right. He’s no threat to you. Would it be better if I went to Mom and Dad’s? Left you guys alone when she gets back?”
“I don’t know,” I said, bringing my hands to my head.
“Why don’t I wait around until she comes back, and if I think you guys should be alone, I’ll leave.”
I weakly nodded.
“Did you eat? I could try and throw something together.”
“I’m fine. I’m going to take a walk. I need to get out of here. If Emma comes back, text me.”
“I will. And Zach?”
“Yeah?”
I grabbed my jacket and stared at her.
“Remember Uncle Matt, okay?”
My gaze locked on hers and I slowly nodded and put on my jacket. “I won’t self-destruct.”
“Good. It would kill Mom.”
She watched me leave. I’d done such a stupid thing, well, so many stupid things, and knowing Emma like I did, I was worried she wasn’t coming back.