I know Kathy should be home by now, but she is ignoring my texts. Maybe I read the situation all wrong. Maybe she is just one of those girls who come on hot but have no intentions of following through. Usually, I’m good at spotting those girls from a mile away, but this one didn’t show those signs. I knew she was into me the minute she climbed into my lap. I thought maybe her brother would have an issue with our flirting, but he didn’t seem to care at all. It’s one of the reasons that we hit it off so well. He let me be me and her be her.

I’m about to send off one final text when Ellie walks into my room. “Soooo, what’s with the girl?”

I look up from my phone to see a smile on her face. “You ever think about knocking before you come in?”

Ellie shakes her head “If the door had been closed, yes, but since it wasn’t, I figured that meant I could come on in.”

Well shit, she’s got me there. “Sit down, Elle. We need to talk.” Her eyes immediately show concern. “It’s okay, you don’t need to freak out just because I want to talk to you. It’s just that I think I’ve found a…” I stop because I’m not sure how to explain what Rusty will be for me.”

“A girlfriend?” Elle shrieks. “You just met her. You can’t be serious.”

“What? No.” I shake my head, completely lost. “What are you talking about?”

“What are you talking about? I thought you were going to say you found a girlfriend.”

“I was going to say bodyguard, support person, hell, I’m not sure how to really describe what I want Rusty to do for me.” I think about it for a few seconds, trying to find the right words. “I know the reason you showed up, baby girl. CJ called you to come and be my sitter. The thing is, not that I don’t love having you around, but I really don’t want you around. At least not twenty-four seven. You’ve got a life you need to live.”

“Oh, thank God,” Ellie says. “I thought for sure you were going to say you found a girlfriend. Shit, she clung to you all night long, and I didn’t see you pushing her away. Just the opposite, big brother. You looked happy. Happier than I’ve seen you since Mom and Dad died.”

Ellie’s right. I haven’t been happy since our parents died. I mean, I’ve been happy, but not the same kind of happy you feel when your heart is full. When they died, it left a hole that just couldn’t be filled. Until tonight. Tonight is the closest I’ve come to feeling that kind of completeness.

“I get it.” Ellie smiles at me. “You don’t need your sister cramping your style, and yes, CJ called me because he was worried and he had his hands full.” Ellie sits down on the bed beside me and places her head on my shoulder. “So, you think Rusty will be able to be what you need? He knows your story, and he can deal with the situation.”

I wrap my arm around my sister’s waist and squeeze her tight. “I’m not a situation, kiddo. I have a problem, and I’m doing the best I can to deal with it. Rusty is just what I need. He’s on my side, not the label’s. He understands addiction. I really think he’s better suited for me than you are. Please don’t take that personally.”

Ellie hugs me back. “I’ll never take it personally. You’re all I’ve got for family. I just want what’s best for you, and if Rusty is the better choice, then I get it. But if you screw up one more time, I swear I’ll put you in rehab and throw away the key. You’ll live out your rock legend days in an institution, because I can’t live without you in my life. Got it?”

I kiss the top of Ellie's head. “I got it, Elle, one more fuckup, and I’ll never see the light of day again.” I shake my head and smile. “I love you, too, baby girl. Now, go to bed. I’ve got some things I need to take care of still.”

Ellie squeezes me one more time and then stands and walks to the door. Just before she leaves, she turns once more. “It’s been forever since you called me baby girl. You sure that girl doesn’t have anything to do with all this happiness?”

I think about it for a minute or two. “You know when you see someone, and you just know that there is something there? Well, that’s what I felt tonight.” I throw a pillow at her, not giving her a chance to respond. “Go before I disown you. And close the door this time.”

Ellie smiles at me one last time, then closes the door behind her.

Maybe there is some truth to my sister's words. I’m sure Kathy does have something to do with how I’m feeling. There’s only one way to find out for sure, but until I talk to her, I’m not going to know.

Me: Did I misread the situation tonight? You’re not returning my texts, and I really thought we hit it off pretty well.

When several minutes pass and I don’t get any response, I turn out the lights, place my phone on the table, and hook it to its charger.