My phone dinged.
Oliver: How’s the wrist? ;)
Frankie: Excruciatingly painful, but I’ll survive.
Oliver: You’re so brave.
Frankie: I try.
Oliver: I have an idea for our next little funventure.
Frankie: Does it involve creating a vision board for your future? Because that sounds like fun to me.
Oliver: Ew
“Frankie?”Mattie called out from the stairway.
“I’m done,” I called back, stuffing my phone into my pocket.
“Come upstairs and hang out. Giles made some popcorn on the stove.”
As she said the words, the heavenly scent of butter and salt drifted into the basement. Right on cue, my stomach rumbled.
“Coming,” I shouted, heading for the stairs and rushing up them.
Mattie waited for me at the top, holding out a bowl. I took it from her and followed her through the kitchen and into the living room. Giles was already there, sprawled out on the couch, his dirty-blond hair tucked into a worn beanie.
“We just started a movie.” Mattie plopped onto the couch and nestled into her husband.
My heart swelled a little at the sight as I took the open armchair. My sister had always dreamed of getting married. She had wasted so much time with her asshole ex that I used to worry she might never wake up and realize her worth. But when she’d found someone as solid as Giles to start a life with, I was thrilled. He might not be a man of many words, but he—without the tiniest, solitary doubt—loved my sister more than anything. I could see it in the way he carefully pressed her into his side.
“I don’t want to interrupt your date night,” I said. But my eyes were already glued to the TV as I shoved a handful of popcorn into my mouth.
“It’s fine,” Giles said, pressing play on whatever action-comedy movie they’d selected.
I hoped they didn’t mind me crashing their little family of two. Growing up, Mattie and I had always been close. So when I got laid off and booked the ticket, overstaying my welcome hadn’t even flittered through my mind. But now that I’d been here a while without an end in sight, I really should make sure I wasn’t imposing. Mattie would never ask me to leave, and Giles would never ask Mattie to ask me to leave. He’d do anything for her—and that included putting up with her directionless sister.
“I’m just glad I finally got you out of that dungeon,” Mattie added. “You’ve been down there literally all day.”
“I heard lack of sunlight actually helps you find employment quicker,” Giles deadpanned.
“Oh, you’re making jokes now, huh?” I teased.
He chuckled and shrugged.
“I resent that comment,” I added. “I get out plenty. I work at Marie’s almost every night, and I went snowboarding a few days ago, thank you very much.
“And what a success that was,” Mattie said, laughing.
I flexed my wrist a few times on instinct, a smile playing on my lips. Faking was such a strong word, but I had known there was nothing wrong with my wrist other thanmaybeit would be a little sore the next day. But I had been so sick of falling on my butt in front of Oliver, I had jumped at the chance to visit the medic. Perhaps I should be embarrassed that Oliver seemed to see right through me to my true motives, but I couldn’t help myself. I hated being bad at things. Snowboarding was a masochist’s sport anyway. Who was the first person that strapped a board to their feet and was like,yes, this is how I want to send myself down the mountain—who cares how many times I fall?
The movie had barely finished rolling the opening creditswhen Mattie shifted on the couch to look at me. “How did the interview go?” she asked.
“I think I killed it.”
“Are you interested in the job though? Didn’t you say it was below what you were doing before?”
My chest burned like that was somehow a dig at me and my skills, even though she was only repeating what I had told her.
