Ivy stepped aside to let Holly hug me, my youngest sister seeming to hold onto me a little tighter than usual.
God, I missed hanging out with them.
“You’ll be there tomorrow, right? You haven’t forgotten about the play?”Holly asked, blinking up at me.
Shit.
I had forgotten.
“Of course I haven’t,”I lied again, kissing her head like I’d done with Ivy.“Remind me what time it starts?”
“Four o’clock.”
“I’ll be there.”
A devious grin spread across Ivy’s face.“Holly’s got a crush on a boy who’s in the play.”
“Shut up, Ivy,”Holly snapped, elbowing her twin.“I don’t like anyone.”
“Yeah, you do. Youjustwon’t admit who he is.”
Holly’s cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson, and I tightened my grasp on her.“And that’s okay. You don’t have to tell us anything until you’re ready.”
Ivy rolled her eyes, muttering something as Holly gave me a shy smile.“Thanks, Tris.”
“You hungry, honey?”Mom said, standing.“I saved you some dinner.”
I followed her into the kitchen, my brain racing with a way I could convince Ben to let me have the afternoon off.
Maybe sexual favors would work.
“Are you okay, honey? You look tired,”Mom said, putting the leftover lasagna in the microwave and starting the timer.
“I’m good.”
Her brows creased.“I’m not sure I believe you.Thatman is working you too damn hard. You’re not getting enough rest.”
Grabbing her as she moved to pull out the cutlery, I tugged her into my arms. I didn’t know where I got my height from; it wasn’t from Mom, who was barely over 5ft, or my dad, who was no taller than 5ft 6’. Mom’s head reached my chest, and she pressed her cheek against it.
“Don’t sweat it, Mom. I’m fine.”
She sighed.“I worry about you, Tris. I don’t want you getting ill again.”
I kissed the top of her head, squeezing her against me.“I know. But I promise, I’m looking after myself.”
Another lie. I’d noticed my body aching a little bit more over the last few days, and no matter how much sleep I got, I stillseemedto be exhausted.
“Okay, honey. Ijusthate how muchthatman is taking from this family. He works your dad into the ground, and he’s doing the same to you.”
It was my turn to sigh. Mom had always hated Ben.
“He’s not so bad,”I replied, hiding the affectionate grinthattried to show on my face.
She snorted. “I don’t believe that. That man is bad to the bone.”
Instinctively, I wanted to jump to his defence, but before I could, the microwave binged, and Mom moved from my grasp. She plated up my dinner, oblivious to my jaw clenching.
Once she’d put the plate on the table, she pulled me down to kiss my cheek, telling me she’d leave me to eat in peace. I sat down, and ignoring my food, I grabbed my phone from my pocket, pulling up Ben’s number and hoping I wasn’t about to piss him off.
