Page 33 of PS: I Hate You

Sender:Dominic Perry

Subject:RE: RE: RE: RE: Travel plans

Texting and phone calls are a more immediate means of communication.

Sender:Maddie Sanderson

Subject:Control Freak

Dear Ass,

Stop holding the coordinates hostage. The only way I’m showing up in Alabama with Josh’s ashes is if you tell me where to go. I will get there on my own.

Sincerely,

Don’t Fuck With Me

The response to my no-longer-playing-nice email takes longer, no doubt as he weighs his options.

I want to do the Josh tasks, if only to open those envelopes and read more of my brother’s words. But Dom is the one who reached out first. I can hold out longer than him, I know it. I may have agreed to follow Josh’s rules, but that doesn’t mean letting Dom boss me around the whole time.

My email dings.

Sender:Dominic Perry

Subject:RE: Control Freak

Dear Don’t Fuck With Me,

34°19’38.00” N

87°46’57.00” W

Send me your flight plans when you have them. Please. And I would appreciate it if you at least let me book our accommodations.

-Dom

In this message, I can read Dom actively learning the error of his ways. His domineering tone is slightly diminished. He’ll soon accept that I only take orders from my boss, and that’s because Pamela pays me well and appreciates my work.

A childhood that consisted of zero control over my life makes it almost impossible for me to allow someone else to dictate my choices now. One more reason to be pissed off at Josh for this postdeath dance he’s making me do.

But I’ll follow the steps because I love him and each one gives me a sliver of the brother I no longer have.

Sender:Maddie Sanderson

Subject:RE: RE: Control Freak

Fine

I won. Kind of.

Now I have until April to mentally prepare for another Domencounter.

Spring

Chapter

Nine