Her cheeks blush, she straightens her back and holds her hand to the side. “I believe it’s your turn”
I snigger.So formal.
**********
Turns out I amterribleat bowling, and Thea is surprisingly good despite never having bowled a day in her life. Now we’re getting our bags, and I don’t want the day to end.
“Hey, why don’t we grab some food before we head back? I’m not quite ready to face Morgana.”Please say yes.My stomach is in knots, and my skin buzzes with energy while I wait for her response.
Thea nods once. “Sure.”
I smile. “Great, where do you want to eat?”
“Oh, around here, I’m not quite sure. Mother usually orders me a grilled chicken salad anyway.”
I scrunch my nose. “Grilledchicken? So not even crispy chicken? She’s a monster. Come on.” I link my arm through Thea’s as we walk further away from the car and deeper into the town.
It doesn’t take long before we find a bar that sells burgers and tacos, and I drag Thea inside. Her face doesn’t screw up as our mothers would; in fact, it lights up as she takes in the sights, sounds and smells.
A live band plays a Bon Jovi classic in the back corner, servers are flitting from table to table, and there isn’t a sad face in the room as we dart to a table free at the opposite side of the room from the band.
A server passes by, and I catch her attention. “Hi, can we grab our own table, or do we have to wait to be seated?”
She chuckles. “First come, first served, honey, you see a table, grab it, cos’ we’re only gonna get busier.”
We make our way over to the empty table and sit. I take my coat off and put my bag between my feet, but Thea still has hers on.
I raise my brow. “Planning on ditching me?”
She shakes her head. “No, of course not, but…Hayleigh, why?”
I look around as I ask. “I don’t get it? What do you mean by why?”
She sighs and picks at her tights. “I mean, why now have you decided to be a sister to me? You never have before.”
That cuts me deep, but it’s because the truth hurts. My heart cracks, and I swallow the guilt that swirls around me.
I open my mouth to speak, but a server arrives at the table. “Drinks first?”
Thea nods. “I’ll have a gin and tonic, please.”
“A lemonade for me, thank you. We’ll be ready to order in a little bit.”
After the server leaves, I scrub my hands down my face. “Okay, that’s fair. I haven’t been much of a sister over the years, and for that I’m sorry. I don’t have an excuse; I was so wrapped up in my own shit that I never stopped to consider if you were okay. I assumed because you never argued back with our parents that you were happy…”
I trail off as she snorts at me, her eyes widening as if she can’t believe it herself.
“Hayleigh, I’m so sorry that was so rude.”
I laugh and snort right back at her. “It’s something I do all the time.” And like that, we’re both laughing like idiots.
“Shall we order?” I hand her a menu, and I decide to go for the cheesy beef tacos. While I wait for Thea to choose, her facial features change with each pass of the menu as if she’s never seen so many options.
When another server arrives with our drinks, we place our orders. Thea opts for a cheeseburger because she’s never hadone before, and I have to wonder what else I don’t know about my younger sister.
“So, are you going to tell me who you were talking about on the phone earlier?” Thea asks.
I smile despite myself. “I was talking about Nate. He’s my…uh, friend?”
