Chapter 1

On the first day of summer break, my parents were already eager to find me yet another summer job.

“A sales associate at the grocery store. The pay’s decent, and it’ll give you some real-world experience.”

They had been saying the same thing every summer since my freshman year of college.

The first summer, they sent me to work long shifts at a warehouse while they took my younger sister, Chloe, to Florida.

The second summer, they put me behind the counter at a convenience store while they paid for Chloe to spend two weeks on a California road trip with friends.

The third summer, I worked at a kids’ summer camp while they took her to Hawaii.

So where were they going this year?

“Japan.”

My older brother, Ethan, came through the door with a grin and handed me a pair of sneakers.

“Bought these for you. You can stand in them for ten hours without killing your feet.”

Then he added casually, “I’m covering the trip this year. Chloe’s still young. This is the time for her to see the world.”

Chloe squealed and threw herself into his arms.

“Ethan! I knew you guys loved me.”

I looked at my parents.

They both looked away at the same time.

No one cared how I felt, even though I was only one year older than Chloe.

Suddenly, I laughed.

I crouched and put on the shoes.

They were light.

Light enough to carry me out of this house.

They still didn’t know that I had already found a job of my own.

One that would take me all the way to Mexico.

...

Mom was helping Chloe pack when she seemed to remember something. She looked up at Ethan.

“Chloe will be a senior next year. Make sure you keep an eye out for a good job for her.”

“The job market is brutal for new grads. Good entry-level positions aren’t easy to land, so if you know anyone who can—”

She stopped halfway through.

Maybe she had finally remembered that another daughter in the room was already graduating.

Ethan still didn’t notice.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve already talked to someone. Once Chloe graduates, I can get her an interview. If it goes well, she should be set.”

Then he paused, as if I had only just occurred to him.

“Emily, do you need help finding something?”

“No.”

I already had a job.

I’d accepted an international assignment in Mexico.

As soon as my graduation paperwork cleared, I would leave.

Ethan gave a brief nod and said nothing else.

Dad must have sensed the awkwardness, because he laughed and tried to smooth things over.

“Our middle child has always been independent. Never gives us anything to worry about.”

My fingers stopped on my shoelaces.

I wasn’t independent.

I had just learned early that if I didn’t do things for myself, no one else would.

Ethan was the oldest. For six years, he had been the only child and the center of everyone’s attention.

Chloe was the youngest, Dad and Mom’s little princess.

And me?

I was stuck in the middle, neither here nor there, almost invisible.

Chloe put down her soda and came over to hook her arm through mine.

“Em, is there anything you want from Japan? I can bring you something back.”

She looked sincere, but something flickered across her expression.

So she knew it wasn’t fair.

But I also knew what would happen.

She would forget.

Just like every other trip.

She remembered the scarves Mom liked, the ties Dad wore, and the old camera parts Ethan collected.

But somehow, she never remembered me.

That brief flash of guilt vanished from her face.

I was used to it.

I gave her a small smile.

“Just pick something.”

Mom stopped folding clothes and smiled at me.

“See? Chloe’s being so thoughtful. If she’s bringing you something, shouldn’t you do something nice for her too?”

Dad jumped in as if he'd been waiting for his chance.

“Why don’t you give Chloe your first paycheck from the summer job? She can use it as spending money.”

Chloe glanced at me and said lightly, “Oh, no. You don’t have to.”

Ethan ruffled her hair.

“Don’t worry about it. Just go have fun.”

In a few sentences, they had decided what to do with my paycheck without asking me once.

It had been like this every summer since freshman year.

Last year, after I paid my tuition, I barely had enough money left to eat.

I borrowed fifty dollars from Chloe for groceries.

Less than five minutes after she sent it, both Mom and Ethan called me.

“You’re an adult. Why are you taking money from your little sister?”

“Act like an older sister for once. If you’re short on money, ask Mom and Dad. Why pressure Chloe?”

Except one hour earlier, I had texted Mom asking for help.

She had pretended not to see it.

Chloe’s messages, though?

Those got answered immediately.

My phone buzzed.

I picked up the shoes I had taken off and went to my room.

The message was from my new company.

“Your onboarding is complete. Report to the New York office next Monday for the international assignment orientation.”

“Got it.”

The second I sent the reply, someone knocked.

Chloe pushed open my door and walked straight to my suitcase.

“Em, mine looks awful. Can I use yours for Japan?”

“No. I need it.”

“For what? You never go anywhere.”

I didn’t answer.

She didn’t want my suitcase because it looked better.

She wanted it because she didn’t care if it got ruined.

No matter how carefully I protected it, every time she borrowed it, it came back scratched, dented, and battered.

The room went still.

She stared at me for a few seconds, her expression darkening.

When I still didn’t give in, she turned and slammed the door behind her.

I started counting silently.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

The door flew open again.

“Emily Carter.”

Right on cue, Mom and Dad stood there, with Ethan behind them.