Tom: Give me a call sometime!
Tossing her phone down, she mumbled, “You would think a sister’s comfort is more important than a cousin’s, but whatever.”
Slater walked in just as she was saying it. With a lopsided grin, he asked, “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Everything’s great.” And…cue the sarcasm.
Slater looked at her curiously.
“Just a text from my brother asking when I’m coming home.” She stood up and began to pace. “And at first, I just thought he missed me, but basically his fiancée just misses having me there to do everything for her. Free wedding labor.” She shook her head in disgust. “Oh, and he feigned concern about me having to see Tucker and his new girlfriend, but there’s no genuine concern because it’s not like they’re going to uninvite him.” Another headshake. “And how do they even know about that whole thing, huh? Like…why would Tucker even bring it up?”
“Um…”
“And you know the worst part?” she asked as she turned and faced him. “The absolute worst part?”
He mutely shook his head.
“This is what my life is! I’m the person whose feelings no one takes into consideration. It’s perfectly fine to put Evie in the corner and have her do all the menial stuff that no one wants to do while they hope I won’t make a fuss. Gah! I’m so tired of it!”
Gently, Slater came closer and wrapped her in his arms. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not fair,” she mumbled against his chest.
“You’re right. It’s not. Sometimes people are just clueless. And families more so than most.” He rested his chin on top of her head. “I’d say don’t go to the wedding, but it’s your brother so I know that’s not an option.”
Pulling back slightly, she looked up at him. “What would you do?”
“Excuse me?”
“If you were me, what would you…” She paused, almost cursing herself. “Sorry. That was thoughtless of me.”
He looked utterly confused. “What are you talking about?”
“With everything that went down with your dad a few days ago and the whole thing with whatever ridiculous honor they’re giving him, why would I ask you what you would do if you were me? I already know the answer. You wouldn’t go.” Shaking her head, she tried to cushion the unintentional blow. “You have good reasons. Your relationship with Cal has never been great. But Tommy and I have always gotten along just fine.”
Slater released her and took a step back. “You can still ask what I’d do, Evie. The two situations aren’t even remotely close. If my father and I had a good relationship, but I didn’t like the expectations put on me to be at the ceremony, I’d speak up.”
“But it won’t matter if I speak up,” she countered. “Good little Evie does what she’s told and does it quietly. That’s who I am.”
“That’s not the woman I’ve spent the last month with. You are fierce and opinionated and strong. I don’t know why you don’t let more people see that side of you. You’re pretty damn spectacular when you stick up for yourself.”
“I’ve never had…I mean…I’ve never felt like there was anything worth arguing over.” She shrugged. “Most of the stuff is just annoying. I’m the responsible one, so I shouldn’t complain when people expect me to be…you know…responsible.”
“But it’s not responsible when they’re telling you what to do and not asking. You’re allowed to let people know when they’re burdening you with stuff. It’s not okay for you to be everyone’s lackey.”
“I wouldn’t put it that way…”
“Then how would you put it?”
Frowning, she looked at him and wanted to lash out and argue because she didn’t want to talk about this anymore.
And how was that for irony? She wanted to argue with him because she didn’t want to argue anymore.
Ugh…
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” she finally said. “I’m going to be home next week, and I’ll deal with it then.”
“And by deal with it you mean that you’ll do what they want and ignore your own feelings,” he said with his own hint of sarcasm. “You’ll put everyone else’s feelings before your own.”
