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“I think you got the picture, Mrs. W. So, anyway, we’re going on a date tonight.”
Her eyes light up like a Christmas tree. “You’re telling me that he did that whole possessive alpha male move? Did he pick you up by your waist and carry you until you submitted to his every desire?”
Her eyes widen with her question, and I bring my hand to my mouth, restraining my giggle. What will I do with this woman? “Yeah, I’m not answering you, Mrs. Winslow. You’re a troublemaker. And I amend my statement. Tell Cami, that way she’ll be calmed down by the time we talk.”
She claps her hands together like she’s a child and I’ve given her access to the candy store.
“We just want you happy, and if a little jealousy was what did the trick, then she’ll be happy for you—eventually.” She steps over the threshold and takes Otis’s cheeks like he’s a human child. “Now, I’ll see you later, my sweet boy, and we’ll watchThe Fast and The Furioustogether.”
I don’t know how but Otis sits on the couch and watches every movie of that franchise when it’s on. He knows the name and barks with his approval.
“Come on, Otis. Let’s go for a walk.” At the W word, he almost jumps from my arms. “Gotta get your harness, little buddy.” I wave at Edna Winslow, and she shuts the door. I assume I’ll get a phone call from my sister in the next thirty minutes.
I don’t know why,but everyone stops when they see Otis, only to ask me if he’s a French bulldog. I understand the confusion, but it’s not like pugs aren’t popular dogs. And a Frenchie’s ears stand up, whereas pugs curl down.
We’re on our way to his favorite dog park when my phone begins to ring. I send it to voice mail the first time. It took longer than I thought. It’s been thirty-five minutes since I left Mrs. Winslow’s apartment. A text comes through next.
The evil twin:Pick up your damn phone.
It’s busy on the streets of Chicago, and I continue to walk, ignoring the barrage. I’ll deal with it at the park. The small area is enclosed, with two doors. You shut one before opening the other so dogs won’t escape, or at least it’s the idea behind it. I always sit nearest the door, watching Otis like a hawk, and with only smaller dogs playing today, I let him off to roam and run.
I sift through my jacket and grab my phone. Ignoring all the texts, I hit her name.
“What in the actual fuck, Cassandra McDonald? I swear to the fucking heavens above, if Mrs. W was telling me the truth, I’m flying out there and knocking some sense into you.”
“Good morning to you too, Sis.”
This is the reason I have her programmed in asthe evil twin.
“Don’t good morning me, you crazy redhead. Tell me you didn’t sleep with Dom after he ghosted youtwice.”
Technically, we both ghosted each other the first time, but I don’t attempt to calm my sister with semantics. We’re crazy protective of the other. As far as family goes, we’re all we have, and we let our crazy out when the other has been wronged.
“He has a backstory, and I won’t go into it, but believe me when I say he’s scared of commitment.”
There’s a gentle softness in her reply. “And he’s said he’s not messing around? That he wants more?”
“Yeah, and, Cami, I do too. When I saw him last night, and was with Curtis, I only wanted him.” I leave my answer as vague as I can when it comes to my invasive sister. “Oh, and Curtis was a gem. He had no problem antagonizing Dom. It was his idea.”
“Curtis is a good man, and I can see him doing that, but back to Dom. What’s next then?” Of course, she has more questions.
“We’re going on a date tonight, and from there, we’ll see.”
When my sister is quiet, and I can’t hear her breathing on the other end, it means trouble. “Cami, you’re concerned, and worried. I get that. I’m worried too. The bottom line—my heart has fallen for him well before I gave it permission. If anyone knows about living life, at a risk, it’s the person who has two men committed to her. But…”
She interrupts me, her voice a little shaky. “I won’t discount chemistry. If anyone understands chemistry, and how it leads to a connection, it’s me. But, you’ve barely spent any quality time together, and it’s only been sex at this point.”
“Do you have to be so honest this morning?” I ask, watching Otis as he starts to chase a Boston terrier. Or is the terrier chasing Otis? They’re cute together, and I revert my attention back to my sister, who is waiting on a reply.
“Sex with Dom isn’t the problem. That’s obvious. It’s everything that comes afterward that has given us problems. But we have this connection, and I want to give us a chance. I think we can be something great. And honestly, there’s never been a pull to another, like I have with Dom.”
My sister lets out a deep, weighted sigh. “Sex is important. No doubt there. And you’re right. You owe it to yourself. And I don’t want to sound like a buzzkill, but keep your eyes open. Iunderstand Dom has commitment issues. I don’t have to know the specifics. Dane and I were with a guy who had the same issue, and as you know, it ended badly.”
I have more I need to share with her. “It’s not just lust, though. Our sex has been very intense, and I can see it progressing quick. Does that make sense?”
“It does. It’s how I fell for Dane. One day I was by myself, and the next, I was living with him.”
I begin to chuckle.
