Junkie(80)

“My image?” I echoed.

Ivy glanced at Rimmel, and the girls shared a look.

I groaned. “Not you, too, sis?” I asked Rim. “You’re supposed to be my un-fashionable soul mate.”

Rimmel snorted. “Sorry, I’ve had to learn all about public image. It’s your turn now.”

I gave her my best sorrowful look, and she laughed.

Since she was the wife of Maryland’s most popular athlete, she had graced the pages of a lot of national magazines, and had paparazzi following her all the time, I guessed she did have to learn about image. My sister was her personal stylist, so even though she preferred sweats and not combing her hair, she didn’t go out like that very often.

“Fine,” I muttered. I gave Trent a look, and he winked at me. The second he did, his gaze averted, embarrassed.

“I’m at your mercy, sis,” I said, bringing the attention back to me and my apparent state of mess.

It worked, and no one mentioned if they saw Trent wink.

“Trent, you’re on baby duty!” Ivy called while she towed me out of the kitchen.

Up in my bedroom, I sat on the bed and drank the coffee T made me while she dug through my closet and drawers.

“Ugh!” she hollered. “This is a disgrace, Andrew! I’m a stylist. I write a column for People for crying out loud. I run a YouTube fashion channel!”

“What does that have to do with me?” I wondered out loud.

“People are going to think I can’t even dress my own brother.”

“I’m pretty sure people will realize I’m a grown man who dresses himself,” I pointed out, highly amused she was so upset about my clothes.

“Well, no one would think I would pick this stuff out,” she muttered.

“They’ll have a stylist there, right?” I asked again.

“I’m sure. But you need to show up looking good. First impressions mean a lot. Especially when you’re dealing with the press. I wasn’t kidding when I said we need to think about your image.”

“I don’t have an image.”

“We’re going to fix that,” she declared as she pulled out clothes. “We need to go shopping.”

I drained the rest of my coffee and blanched. “Please, no.”

“Fine, then I’ll go shopping without you. You can try it all on when I get home.”

Well, it was better than going to the mall, so I agreed.

Ivy gasped and spun around to look at me. “I know! I’ll do a piece on racing-inspired looks. What to wear in the stands, out on the town, etc. It’s going to be awesome. The editor is going to love this!”

“Sounds good,” I said.

“I can even add some stuff about the new division and you! It will be extra press.” She gasped again.

“What now?” I asked.

“I can use you as a model on my YouTube channel for the racing segment. Double exposure.”

“No,” I said, flat.

“Yes,” she argued, absolutely stubborn. “It’s your job now. I have a lot of subscribers.”

“Fine, whatever,” I muttered. “Don’t spend too much on the clothes. I’m not a football player.”

She waved away my requests, and I knew that meant she’d do what she wanted.

Sisters.

“Here.” She tossed some clothes at me. “Put these on.”

When I didn’t start getting dressed, she glared at me. “Well?”

“You want me to get dressed in front of you?”

She rolled her eyes. “Please. Like I’ve never seen you in your boxers.”

“Turn around.” I motioned. “I need some privacy.”

“You’re an idiot,” she said but turned anyway.

I grinned at the back of her blond head. I loved annoying her.

“Hey, Drew?”

I looked up because of the sound of her voice. She’d been quiet as I pulled on the jeans, and she was no longer teasing me or gasping with ideas.

Something was up.

“Yeah, Ives?” I asked as I threaded the black belt through the black jeans.

“I’ve been wanting to ask you something.”

“Ask,” I drawled. My sister could ask me anything. Aside from Trent, she was my favorite person on this earth. I’d do anything for her.

Even so, I was suddenly nervous.

“You said something to me a long time ago. Something that has weighed on me since.” She began.

I felt my brow wrinkle.

I grasped her wrist and turned her around gently (We were all gentle with my sister. She was the kind of girl that deserved gentleness). I still wasn’t wearing a shirt, but as she pointed out, it wasn’t like I never walked around without one. “What is it?”

“You said this place totally changed you.” She looked up, blue eyes concerned. “There was something about the way you said it… What did you mean?”