I've never had an issue with being alone. That said, it's been a week since she left and I'm not sure I've ever felt lonelier.

I've worked, more than I have in weeks. It's the only thing that will take my mind off of her.

Not that I mind her being in my thoughts. Still, it would be depressing if I thought of nothing else the entire time she was gone.

“Asher. Asher, can you hear me over that thing?”

Switching my sander off, I turn to see my little sister standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips.

“What are you doing here?”

She pushes open the door behind her. “Gideon’s here too so stop working and come be a good host and entertain us.”

Leaning my hand against the table I was sanding I ask, “What's this now?”

She smirks. “What? You aren't happy to see me?”

Crossing the room, I drape my arm over her shoulders. “I'm always happy to see you.” Since Gideon can probably hear us I add, “But did you have to bring Gideon?”

“Hey,” he shouts, causing me to smirk.

“So, why the visit?” I ask, ignoring him.

Abby glances at him out of the corner of her eye, communicating something to him before saying, “What? We can't just visit you because we felt like it?”

A likely story.

“If I knew you were coming, I could have planned something,” I reply as we make our way into the house from my workshop.

Abby moves away from me to the kitchen island. “No need. See? We brought grub.”

Based on the amount of food spread out across its surface I can tell she's not lying.

I punch Gideon’s shoulder. "Good to see you, man."

He ducks his head with a grin. "I get that a lot." Cheeky bastard.

“Can I get either of you a drink?” I ask.

Gideon asks for a beer while Abby opts for water.

As soon as they both have their drinks in hand, I launch in. “Now, tell me the real reason you're here.”

“We wanted to see you,” Abby replies.

I frown at her.

“And, we wanted to make sure you're okay since Paige left,” Gideon adds.

I get myself a beer and take a swig. “Why wouldn't I be okay?”

Abby glares at Gideon before turning back to me. “We wanted to make sure you aren't working yourself to death.”

I tap my fingers on the top of the island. “Still alive and well.”

Abby leans toward me and inhales.

Then, wrinkling her nose, says, “When was the last time you showered?”

I glance down at my shirt, pulling at it to sniff it. “What day is it?”

Abby sets her water down and points to my bedroom. “Go take a shower.”

It's easier to do what she wants than it is to argue with her. Besides, I'm not entirely sure how long it's been.

Since they're waiting, I don't linger and am showered and changed in no time. Not bothering to dry my hair, I rejoin them. They've moved from my kitchen to my back deck, opening the umbrella for some shade.

“Much better,” Abby says as I approach.

Gideon shrugs. “I didn't think you smelled bad before.”

I slide into a chair and make myself a plate. “Thanks.”

“Have you talked to her?” Abby asks.

“Yes,” I say but don’t give any details.

She reaches out to smack my arm. “And, what did she say?”

“She’s busy. Things were a wreck there so it's taking all her time to get them in order.”

“That's it? That's all you two talked about?”

No, but our conversation as to what we wanted to do to each other once we see each other again is none of her business.

Gideon watches me and grins. “They had phone sex.”

Abby’s mouth drops open and she turns to face him. “How can you tell?”

He frowns. “I don't know, I just can.”

Abby rolls her eyes, focusing on me once she's done. “No specifics but is Gid right?”

Folding my arms over my chest I reply, “It's none of your concern.”

Gideon makes a sweeping gesture with his arm. “Told you.”

Abby starts to eat again.

“Why do you two care so much?” I ask.

It's Gideon who answers. “It's about time you were getting some on the regular.”

Even with a mouth full of food, Abby smacks him and says, “Don't be such an asshole. This isn't about him getting some, it's about him being happy.”

Gideon’s brows come together. “Aren't those the same thing?”

She smacks him again, this time harder.

“Ouch. Quit it,” he says, rubbing his arm.

“Ignore him,” Abby says. “He only thinks with his dick.”

Gideon gives me a look, but doesn't say anything, probably because he’s still rubbing the spot where Abby hit him. Multiple times.

“She’ll be back in a couple weeks. Until then, we’re both working.”

“There's working and then there's overworking,” Abby stresses.

“Even if I'm working too much, what's two weeks?” I ask.

Her gaze moves to the lake. “Don't get so buried in your work that you forget to eat, or take care of yourself.”

I cover her hand with mine. “You don’t need to mother me.”

She laughs. “You're lucky it's me and not mom who's doing it.”

Alright, she has a point.

I lift my hands in surrender. “Okay, okay.”

Gideon stops rubbing his arm to start eating again. Leaning back in my chair, I take another drink of my beer. As much as I love my family, it's embarrassing they feel the need to check up on me like this.

What's even worse is, they seemed to be right. I haven't been taking care of myself.

“Why don't you go to New York?” Gideon asks.

I squint at him. “Two reasons. First, she didn't ask me and second, I'd only be in the way.”

He shakes his head. “She won't think you're in the way if you’re giving it to her every night.”

“How are we even related?” Abby asks, closing her eyes.

We both ignore her, even though she has a point.

“Enough about Paige. Tell me what's going on with you guys.”

Gideon leans back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. “I've got no complaints. Life is good.”

In the past, I've envied Gideon’s carefree lifestyle. I couldn't understand how we could be so different. He's my brother and I love him. He's the guy who can walk into any room and own it in no time flat.

I've never had any shortage of attention but with his looks and personality, Gideon had an almost cult like following in high school and it’s continued ever since.

Nothing ever gets him down.

“Same old, old same, for me,” Abby replies.

“Still can't get any dates?” Gideon asks.

At this point, given the look Abby slices in his direction, I start to fear for his life.

He seems oblivious and keeps talking. “You're not ugly and only semi crazy.”

She crosses her arms over her chest, anger radiating from her, and looks at me. “What should I kick his ass for first, the not ugly comment or the semi crazy one?”

I shrug since she doesn't need a reply from me either way.

“I'd like to see you try and kick my ass,” Gideon replies.

Wrong answer.

She jumps out of her chair and tackles him, chair and all.

“Get off of me, you psycho twerp,” he shouts now in a headlock.

“Say you're sorry,” she replies.

I grab my phone and snap a pic to send to Noah.

“I'm sorry,” he says after a while.

“For?” She asks.

“For having a psychopath for a sister,” he grunts.

I never knew my little brother had a death wish. Since he isn't gasping for air, I don't step in. Truth is, I'm more grateful for their interruption to my day than I let on. I'm happy to sit back and let their antics entertain me for the rest of the afternoon.

After Abby finally gets Gideon to apologize in a way she feels is sufficient, the three of us go out on the lake. Abby and I take the two-seater paddle boat while Gideon opts for a kayak.

The paddle boat has pedals like a bicycle to propel it forward. It's the perfect boat for conversation because we sit side by side.

“Are you feeling pressure to find a boyfriend?” I ask.

She sighs. “Well, since I'm not seeing someone there's clearly something wrong with me. Or, that's what it feels like every time I tell anyone I'm single. For whatever reason, if I help someone buy or sell a house, they want to set me up as a thank you. I mean, I make commission so it's not like I'm working for free.”

“You'll never have to worry about that from me,” I reply.

She reaches over to pat the top of my hand. “Thanks Ash.”

“Are you guys talking about me?” Gideon asks, paddling up.

“Not everything is about you,” Abby snaps.

He makes a face at her before paddling away.

“I don't even know why I asked him to ride up with me.”

“He’s entertaining, that's for sure,” I reply.

She laughs and then says, “At least he’s good for all the landscaping stuff you'll need here for Noah and Finley’s wedding.”

“I noticed you didn't park in your usual spot,” I reply.

“Gid says I'm not allowed to park there again until after the wedding,” she replies.

“What do you think about them having it here?” I ask.

She spreads her arms out wide. “I can't think of a better place. In fact, I have a feeling it won't be the last wedding here.”

“Yeah, who else will be getting married here?” I reply.

She grins at me. “Once Paige moves back, you.”

I cough. “Let's not get ahead of ourselves.”

She starts pedaling faster. “Oh hush. It's you, not Gideon. It's not like settling down with someone isn't going to ever happen for you. Besides, I've talked to Fin and she told me how cozy you two were during their visit. Oh my God, and she told me how you parked in the lot of her job every night to see her home safe. That's one of the most romantic things I've ever heard.”

I pedal to match her speed so the boat won't start spinning. “Sell any houses recently?”

She laughs at my subject change. “As a matter of fact, I did.”

While she tells me about her work, Gideon paddles beside us again. Abby doesn't seem to mind a bigger audience. Once she's done, Gideon tells me about the projects he’s working on.

It always hits me, even though we were raised the same way, we all forged our own paths. I always knew Abby would be successful. She's been driven since she was in preschool.

Gideon on the other hand, has always lived life as if it was one never-ending party. The fact that he's running a successful business all on his own is a miracle.

It's strange that out of the three of us, I'm the one in a relationship. Both Gideon and Abby dated through high school. Back in those days, Gideon had a serious girlfriend. It wasn't until after their breakup that he started going through women the way he does.

For Abby, it wasn't until college that she seemed to settle down. In fact, we were all certain her college boyfriend was going to propose. She never did share exactly what went down between the two of them. One minute they were inseparable, the next they were over, and over in a way she lost her mind if his name was even mentioned.

Now she only goes through the motions of dating, and that's after our mom pesters her.

“Do you think there's enough wind today for me to take out the surfer?” Gideon asks.

I raise my arm and watch the tree line for any sign of a breeze. “Iffy at best.”

He shrugs. “What the hell. I'm still going to give it a go.”

“Don't expect us to come rescue you if you end up stranded on the board,” Abby replies.

I decide against reminding her it'd be a pain but he could swim it in if that happened.

As he paddles away, she says, “Once Paige is back, if it's still warm enough, you should invite everyone up for a picnic.”

“Sure.”

She turns to look at me. “Even with Paige here?”

I steer us away from the lake’s center since this will probably be the way Gideon will come if there's enough wind. “She’ll have to meet everyone eventually.”

“I wonder if Brooke will let Eli bring the kids,” she says sadly.

It's my turn to face her. “Are you sure everything's okay?”

Her head jerks back. “Why would you ask that?”

My gaze shifts to where Gideon is dragging his kayak up the beach. Looks like I'm going to have to hose it down later. “You seem off.”

“In what way?” She counters.

“Are you doing as good as you say, or are you trying to stop us from worrying about how you're really doing?”

“I'm fine,” she snaps.

Folding my arms over my chest I hold her gaze.

It takes a couple minutes before her shoulders sag. “I'm okay I guess.”

Unfolding my arms, I rest my hands on my knees. “So, lay it on me. What's got you down?”

“This is going to sound bad,” she starts.

“Tell me anyway,” I reply.

“I'm jealous of you and Noah,” she blurts, turning her face away.

I blink. “Why?”

“I get that you and Paige aren't where Noah and Finley are but, it's only a matter of time. You two are going to end up together for real, I can feel it and maybe it's making me feel lonely. I'm so lame I had to get a cat as a boyfriend replacement.”

Her voice hitches at the end and she lifts her hands to wipe at her eyes. I make a move to hug her, making our paddle boat rock.

“Don't,” she stops me with her hand. “If Gid sees you hugging me he’ll know something is up and won't shut up about it the whole ride home until he finds out what it is.”

“Okay,” I reply, pulling back.

“Noah met Finley because of me and no offense, but you're the most anti-social guy on the planet and you met someone. Is there something wrong with me?”

“There is nothing wrong with you,” I all but shout.

Her gaze shoots to Gideon but he's too far away to hear us. In fact, given the way he’s fighting to get the sail to stay up he wouldn't hear us even if we were right next to him.

“Come on. My idea of fun is changing into my pjs and watching Naruto,” she replies.

“Naruto?” I ask.

She grins. “It's Japanese anime and the best. Imagine a ninja, a really powerful one.”

After I nod, she continues, “Now picture him as this annoying kid who is positive one day he’ll grow up to be hokage, that’s what they call the most powerful ninja in their village. And, because of this every time he gets knocked down or fails a test he still tells everyone in the village he's going to succeed in the end.”

I nod again even though she lost me at hokage. “What's wrong with that?”

“How am I ever going to meet someone?” she asks.

I think back to the first time I saw Paige. “It might happen when and where you least expect it.”