Tempting the Crown (The Crown 1)

“And she just didn’t care. She fell for me anyway.”

I wasn’t going to fall for it like Garrett did. I didn’t believe that one angel had swooped in and delivered my brother to some saving grace. To a path of magical redemption. He had been with her for maybe two months. I had spent twenty years with this.

“I’m glad you have a new girlfriend. That’s great. And I’m glad she is supportive of healthy choices for your treatment. But what about the two weeks? Where have you been? You walked away from your job. You didn’t talk to your friends. This is the kind of stuff you do when you’re not ok.”

“I’ll call them and apologize.”

“That’s great, but you aren’t telling me what happened. I drove around with Dad yesterday. Dad,” I pressed the point.

He chuckled. “Sorry I missed that. Also, glad it wasn’t me.”

“You think it’s funny we thought you were dead or shaking in a dirty bathroom somewhere?” I hopped from the sofa. “What you do matters to me. It matters to all of us. So this time you left because of some happiness journey it sounds like? Your happiness led to my misery. You should have seen Mom. She’s a wreck.”

He stared at me. “Emily, I wasn’t trying to drag you in to anything. You live in D.C. You have your life. How was I supposed to know they’d ask you to fly down?”

“Because when someone in your family goes missing that’s what you do!” I was flushed. My head spun.

“Calm down. I’m sorry. Really, I should have checked in. Or out or whatever.”

“I don’t know what to say anymore.” I pulled out my phone. “They need to know you’re alive. You can tell them your version of whatever it is that happened.”

I realized in my hands was the decision to call one parent before the other. To choose who was more deserving. I scowled. I dialed my mother.

“Emilyt, I woke up and you weren’t here.”

“Mom, I’m fine. I’m with Garrett.”

“Oh, God. Thank you. Thank you. Where is he? I want to talk to him.”

“Hold on.” I glared at my twin and shoved the phone in his hand. “Here you go.”

“Hey, Mom. Yep, I’m fine.”

I listened while he explained that he and his new girlfriend had gone on some kind of spiritual retreat together to detox from the digital world. They had made a commitment not to use phones or the Internet. He felt at ease with his decision.

He handed the phone back to me.

“Emily, are you coming back?” Mom asked.

“Yes, I’m leaving soon. I have to get to D.C. tonight since my brother isn’t dead.” I shot him a quick glare.

“Stop saying that. Be glad he’s ok.”

“I am. He seems perfectly fine. I need to go, Mom.”

“I’ll see you soon.” I hung up and called our father. I went through a quicker greeting before passing the phone this time.

Garrett didn’t go into as much detail. And he was shorter with his words.

In the end, they both knew their son was ok.

My hand landed on the doorknob. “Next time you decide to digital detox, let someone know, ok?”

He grimaced. “I really am sorry.”

I pulled him into a hug. “Me too.”

“Safe flight home.”