“Proceed as we are?” Neve echoed with a small grin. “I’ve never seen someone who counsels others toward a healthier mindset run so fast from her own issues.”

“I’m not running. I’m merely giving myself some time to think about . . . those two. I don’t know what to do with either of them.” Olivia didn’t want to be irritated at her sister. Not after they’d gotten along so well for the past few days, but she tired of Neve needling her about facing things. But perhaps Neve could help her pick. Isn’t that what sisters were for—helping you figure crap out?

Neve must have assumed as much when she said, “No-brainer to me. Spencer is the cat’s meow, and Conrad is so . . . Conrad.”

“What does that mean?”

Neve shrugged. “Con’s so much all the time. The focus always has to be on him. I’m surprised he’s content to be behind the camera.”

“He’s not like that. He’s a good person. Does a lot of things for other people.” She was nearly certain about this, though she didn’t actually know since they hadn’t been around each other much.

“I didn’t say he was a bad person. Just the kind that demands a lot from a person. I recognize it because that’s how Scott was.”

Olivia bristled. “Con is nothing like Scott. He’s successful, brilliant, and generous. He’s paying for Chase to do the program.”

“Out of guilt over Marley, and now he’s messing with you. Why’s he doing that? It’s because he has an empty place and he figures you can fill it because you always did that for him. Even as a kid, you propped him up and made him feel better about himself.”

Truth edged her sister’s words, but Olivia wasn’t ready to hear them about Conrad. She knew Conrad, had always known him. Neve didn’t know what had happened between the two of them the night before their sister had died. Neve couldn’t understand the bonds they’d always shared with one another. Instead of arguing with her sister, Olivia leaned over and turned on one of the matching bedside lamps and slipped toward the door. “I don’t want to argue about Con. Let’s drop it. I’m going to brush my teeth and clean my face. That should give you enough time to get ready for bed yourself.”

“Chicken.” Neve’s mouth curved down, and her eyes glinted.

“Bock, bock,” Olivia said, disappearing out the door, closing it behind her.

She turned and crashed into Spencer. “Oh!”

“Hey,” he said, softly, catching her elbow and steadying her.