Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
We wouldn’t have.
When a knock comes to the door, interrupting my pity party, I sit up and grab a pair of shorts before throwing them on. I go to the door and open it just as my sister runs through it. She’s like lightning, striking her small body into me, and I catch her with ease. I hold her close, and she hugs me just as tightly as I turn, hoping my mom can find her way in. I kiss Sabine’s cheek as she pulls back to look at me.
Her face scrunches up. “Ew, are you wearing lipstick?”
I laugh as I wipe my mouth, slightly embarrassed as I drop her onto the couch. “Maybe. Does it bring out the color of my eyes?”
She laughs as I go to clean it off and to fix the bed so neither of them knows someone was here. I reach for a shirt, pulling it over my head. “I hadn’t expected you two yet. I thought we said nine?”
Sabine bounces happily as I look at my mom, who is holding up Samantha’s green lace thong. “Someone wanted as much time with you as she could get. Sorry if we crashed your party.”
I snag them away from her, throwing them in the trash. “No apology needed. Where is Cliff?”
“Jason,” Mom corrects me, and I roll my eyes. “Had other plans.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” I say, putting on some deodorant as I take in my mom.
She had me early, around fourteen, so she doesn’t look old enough to have a twenty-four-year-old. With dirty-blond hair in a short bob, she has blue eyes that are as striking as Sabine’s and mine. She wears a simple baby-blue dress that’s a wee bit short for a mom of an eight-year-old, but who am I to judge? She has her priorities—which are only what bring her happiness.
And not a priority of making sure my sister is happy.
That’s my job.
Sabine grins up at me, and I tap her nose as I go to the sink. I get ready quickly, and then I show them out of the room since the embarrassment lingers, knowing that I hadn’t had time to clean up whatever was left behind from Samantha and me. Once we’re in the hotel restaurant, we order drinks and then food as Sabine tells me all about the new violin she wants.
“What’s wrong with the one you have?”
“Nothing. I just want another. So when I’m in a blue mood, I play my blue one, and then when I’m in a classic mood, I play my black one,” she gushes, grinning at me with two bottom teeth missing.
“Seems a bit excessive.”
She gives me a look that clearly tells me she doesn’t agree. “Don’t you have, like, eight sticks?”
I return her look. “I’m an adult with adult money.”
“And I’m your favorite sister.”
I eye her. “I don’t know that. I may have some more out there,” I tease, and she giggles as I wrap my arms around her, kissing her temple. “When I come to this recital, if I’m impressed, I’ll get it for you, okay?”
She beams, her little cherub-like cheeks turning red. “Okay!”
I kiss her temple and find that my mom is watching me. I swallow apprehensively because I have a feeling I know what she’s about to ask. “Yes, Mother?”
“Can I have the teacher call you, and you pay her? I always forget to bring the money, and then I’m having to wait for you, and it’s just a pain.”
How do you forget to pay for your kid’s lessons? Man, I’m so glad this isn’t the person who raised me, but then the grief I feel over my grandpa’s loss is real. He’d never forget to pay for my sports—or anything, for that matter. “That’s fine.”
“I also need some help with the rent. Jason is between jobs—”
I put up my hand to stop her. “I told you, I don’t pay your rent for your boyfriend to live there too. If he’s gonna live there, he’s gonna pay.” I look to Sabine. “Earmuffs.” She drops her fork and covers her ears. “And if I find out he’s mistreating her, you’ll never get a cent from me.”
“D’Artagnan, it isn’t like that.” I don’t know how I can hate the way she says my name, but I do. It drives me insane; it’s almost like a curse on her lips. I don’t know why she even speaks to me. I feel more like a burden than someone she loves. “I only need help this month.”
That’s what she says every other month, reminding me exactly why she speaks to me.
“Mom, why don’t you guys just move in with me? I have the space.”
“Yes!” Sabine begs. “I hate it here.”
But Mom is already shaking her head. “I don’t like South Carolina. I like it out here.”
I blow out a breath, meeting Sabine’s sad gaze. I pinch her chin before she goes back to eating, and I look at my mom. “I think you could like it.”