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Of course, the moment I have this epiphany is when my mom decides to join the impromptu pool party. Unlike Dad, Mom is more of a homebody, so I know she and Josie haven’t crossed paths yet.
I watch as Josie pours my mom a drink, continuing the scene of what our lives could have looked like if things worked out differently.
What was supposed to be my quiet, relaxing night has turned into a reminder of how much I screwed up and a night I now desperately want to end.
I want to get out of here and away from this—except I can’t because I’m trapped in the pool.
“Well, I think we’re going to call it a night,” Mom says, finishing her drink and getting up from the table with Dad. “These were a bit stronger than I was expecting.”
Josie laughs. “I’m happy to give you my recipe.”
“Maybe you can stop by again before you hit the road and drop it off,” Mom says, giving Josie a hug.
“Now you kids stay out of trouble.” My dad points a finger at the girls before looking back at me in the pool where I’ve stayed for the last hour. He gives me a funny look before he hooks his elbow into Mom’s and they head inside.
Once the screen door slams shut, the girls turn their attention to me.
“How’s the water?” Sisi asks.
“Great,” I say from my spot in the deep end of the pool. I’m just tall enough that in this spot, I can touch the bottom with my foot and not have to strain to stay afloat.
“Are you ever going to get out of the pool?” Josie asks.
I shake my head. “No, I think I’m good.”
“You’re going to turn into a prune,” my sister teases. “Seriously, make yourself useful and go inside to get us some drinks. Mom did a number on the pitcher that Josie brought, and we’re out.”
I shake my head again. “Get your own drinks.”
Sisi gasps. “Rude. I swear, you better not be trying to hide a situation in your shorts or something.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time he’s been stuck in a pool for that reason,” Josie says over her shoulder as she walks to the door.
My sister laughs, spitting out some of her drink. “Ew. I hope you’re wrong because—” She closes her eyes and shudders. “Just, ew.”
“I was wrong before. I hate this conversation more,” I groan before letting myself sink into the water for a moment so I don’t have to listen to this conversation from hell any longer.
When I come back up, Josie is stopped at the door to the kitchen. “Let him be weird. Is the liquor cabinet still in the same place, and still unlocked?”
Sisi snorts a laugh. “Sure is. There’s also some wine in the fridge I left here, if you want that.”
“Perfect,” Josie says before heading inside.
Once the door creaks shut, my sister gets out of her chair and comes over to the edge of the pool. She stands there and tilts her head, studying me.
“What?” I glare up at her.
She scrunches her face in the way that tells me I’m about to get another little sister lecture.
“Are you good? You’re being weird and anti-social, even for you.”
I shake my head. “Not really. I’ve been better.”
“What’s wrong?”
I close my eyes and sigh. “She still doesn’t know.”
Sisi scrunches her face in confusion. “Doesn’t know what? That you never got over her, and you’ve been helplessly in love with her for years? Because I hate to break it to you, but everyone else knows that besides you two, apparently.”
