“Nope.”
Dial finally looked at me and probably sensed we were about to have it out. My sister knew me better than anybody. I didn’t like it when things were out of place, and it was clear she and I were not on the same track. “Okay, shoot.”
“It’s about Fancy. She mentioned you two got into an argument yesterday.”
Dial reached for her coffee, taking a thoughtful sip. “It didn’t rise to the level of an argument.”
“She said you threatened to kick her ass.”
“First, it wasn’t a threat. And second, when were you going to tell me?”
My brows slammed together. “Tell you what?”
“That you and Fancy were shacking up.”
“What is this the seventies? We’re notshacking up, she’s my houseguest.”
“A house guest who’s sleeping in your bed.” She pointed her finger at me. “I knew there was something off with you the last few days. You’ve been all chipper and that is not a word anyone has used to describe you. Walking through the aisle whistling and shit. Leaving at five o’clock on the dot like you had better things to do.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“It’s peculiar … with you traipsing through the shop like a Disney princess before she pricks her finger, eats the apple, or does some other stupid shit.”
“I didn’t tell you because I knew exactly how you would respond.”
“We talked about this. You and Fancy aren’t good for each other.” Dial’s tone made it sound like ancient law as if she was reading scripture from the good book. “An eye for an eye. He without sin cast the first stone. Edison and Fancy aren’t good for each other.”
With a long huff, I fidgeted with the brim of my baseball cap. “No,youtalked about whatyouthought was best for me. I’ve asked you a thousand times to stop sticking your nose in my business. You did it with Willa and you’re doing it again with Fancy.”
“I’m looking out for you.” Apologies were few and far between when it came to my sister.
“Dial, I am damn near thirty years old, I don’t need you looking after me anymore.”
“You’re just too pussy whipped to see she’s doing what she always does. She’s going to hurt you.”
“Fancy makes me happy, right now, in this moment. If I get hurt, I get hurt. But I’m not going to live scared. You don’t have to like her. I’m not asking for you two to be friends, but you can’t keep inserting yourself into my personal life like this.”
“So, caring about you and your well-being is a crime now?”
“Damnit Dial, you just push and push. I have a lot of thoughts about you and Oz, and I’ve always bitten my tongue because I know you don’t want to hear it. I’m asking you to do the same now. Bite your tongue and swallow the blood like I’ve been doing all these years.”
“That’s different.” It was always different, or somebody else’s fault.
“No it isn’t … not really. What went on between you and Oz is your business. And what’s happening with me and Fancy is mine.”
“So, Fancy comes along and I have no say.”
“You don’t get a say,” I shouted. “Not in how I live my life. Or about who I choose to love.”
Dial sputtered out a laugh. “You love her now?”
“I’ve always loved her. It’s always been her. You don’t think I know she’s going back to LA, and this is all going to be over? You don’t think I fucking know that?”
“Then why put yourself through it when you know the outcome?”
“Because in this life you have to grab hold of what you can. Find joy in the simple moments. So yeah, I don’t care if it’s a week, a few days, or one second. I just want to be with her.” Sometimes talking to my sister was like conversing with a brick wall. I was stubborn and set in my ways, but Dial was ten times worse because she was stubborn and judgmental. “And I know you don’t get it because you prefer to push people away rather than be vulnerable.”
My statement landed and I witnessed Dial’s body language shift as she mentally checked out of the conversation. Her silence let me know we were at an impasse. We were not going to see this the same. Standing, I prepared to leave. if we kept at it like this, I was liable to say something that would be difficult to walk back.
