AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Bye.”
The line goes dead, and I set the phone down on the edge of the vanity. My head’s pounding, mouth dry as toast.
I’m going to meet my half sister. A total stranger who shares half of my DNA.
The very thought makes me queasy, bile rising in my throat. Shoving the acid down, I text Roman.
King: I’m meeting Lacey at 11
Roman: Wow. How? What went down?
King: I called her. She’s on spring break. Also related to half the town, which is kinda weird
Roman: You nervous?
King: Hell yeah I am
Roman: Just be yourself. It’ll be fine
King: Because I’m so charming?
Roman: Something like that
King: You checked on the ranch since I left?
Roman: Once. Beau’s got it. That rascal Oreo hopped the fence, though. Beau called me for backup. Spent an hour chasing that little asshole
King: Beau or Oreo?
Roman: Haha, very funny. I won’t tell Beau you said that
Roman: Good luck today. Try to get a pic. And if you need me, I’ll be around
King: Thanks
King: One more thing—Jagger’s getting out of jail early. Lock your doors. Don’t imagine he’ll be too happy with any of us
Roman: Shit, really? Why?
King: Good behavior. Cash called to harass Juliet and dropped the news on her
Roman: I’ll warn the others
King: Thanks. Talk to you later
Roman: Bye
Juliet and I check out of the Grove, saying goodbye to Liz and Murphy. They send us on our way with a doggy bag of Delaney’s pastries and a stack of business cards to share with our friends.
We kill time walking up and down Main Street, checking out the shops we didn’t hit yesterday. The mood’s shifted, though, the adventure vibe gone, replaced by anxiety and apprehension. Neither of us talk much, too wrapped up in our own feelings. I want to know what she’s thinking, but I can’t deal with our relationship right now. I need to focus on Lacey and what the hell I’m going to say to her.
I guess the hard part’s out of the way, telling her that Mom’s gone.
But what will she look like? Will she want to hang out, be part of the family? Get to know us? Send holiday cards and call on our birthdays? What does she expect?
I have way more questions than answers. And I don’t like it one little bit.
Finally, it’s almost eleven. Time to meet Lacey.
