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“Since when did you have the time to tell them I was coming?”
I shrugged. “Does it matter?”
“It kind of does, yes.”
“Well, all you need to know is that they know you’re coming. And they’re very excited.”
“Even your sister?”
“Does my sister matter?” I asked.
The two of us enjoyed a small breakfast before we passed out on the couch tangled up in one another once again. I was insatiable, and she was irresistible. We woke up just in time to get showers. Separately, of course. I knew if she stepped foot into my shower with me we would be woefully late. The two of us pieced ourselves together the best we could, then I drove us on over to my parents’ house. And oh, were they happy to see her. My mother practically rushed her and gathered Olivia up into her arms. My father picked her up and swung her around as if she was some long-lost daughter of his. Even my brother, who had a serious germ problem, gave her a high five as she walked into the house.
But Brittany, my sister, was definitely not happy she was there.
“Oh my gosh, it’s been way too long. Where in the world have you been?” my mother asked.
“Just because you weren’t dating our son doesn’t mean you couldn’t have stopped by. We’ve missed you, Olivia!” my father proclaimed.
“Yeah. I still have that video game saved, by the way. We never did finish it,” my brother said.
“Then, it sounds like I know what I’m doing after lunch,” Olivia said, smiling.
My sister rolled her eyes and scoffed, and I knew Olivia had caught it. She looked over at Brittany, and I shot my sister a look. I knew Brittany had never been a fan of Olivia, but I also never understood why. I had avoided the topic of discussion back in college because she and I never did get along during those years. But I was grown, and so was she. Brittany was in college herself, practically an adult in the eyes of the world. That meant we could hold an adult discussion as to why she still acted like a fucking brat when Olivia was around.
“Hey there, Brit. How are you doing?” Olivia asked.
“Could be better,” my sister murmured.
“Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?” Olivia asked.
“Not with you,” Brittany spat.
“Well, if you don’t have anyone to talk to, you know you can always talk with me,” Olivia said.
I was astounded by Olivia’s kindness to my sister. I always had been. She’d been that way with my sister in college, too. Kind and open with her even though Brittany would rather see her plummeting off a damn cliff. And Olivia took everything in stride, something I fucking loved about her. I knew my parents were getting annoyed with her attitude. I saw my father shooting her looks all the way through lunch. Everyone bombarded Olivia with questions, except Brittany. Everyone wanted to know how she was doing, except Brittany. The only question Brittany asked was one that silenced the entire table before my mother reprimanded her with a very nasty stare.
“How’s the sobriety going?”
I sat Olivia tense in the corner of my eye, but she didn’t respond to my sister’s nasty question. I shot Brittany my own look behind my mother and saw her slide down into her chair. For a nineteen-year-old, she really knew how to act nine. But I didn’t get a chance to pick apart anything or catch Brittany’s stare before my mother opened her mouth again.
“Can I just say, I’m so glad the two of you are back together. I mean, I just knew you were both going the distance in college like me and your father, Brett. Welcome back to the family, Olivia. You’ve been missed,” she said.
I peeked over at Olivia and watched her eyes settle hard onto my mother. She didn’t say anything to correct her, but I saw her grow uncomfortable. I slid my foot over to hers and nuzzled her ankle with my toes. She whipped her gaze over to me, her eyes silently questioning what was happening. Olivia and I hadn’t talked about anything regarding that subject. Nothing near it. For all I knew, she regarded this as nothing but a hookup.
The idea of getting back together with her filled my gut with a happiness I couldn’t explain. Even if my sister was scoffing in the corner like a pissed-off schoolgirl.
“Well, thank you for having me for lunch. I really do appreciate it. The food tastes fantastic, as always,” Olivia said.
“We’ve got dessert, too! So, save some room. I had our chef make your favorite. German chocolate cake, with extra coconut shavings,” my father said, smiling.
“I hate coconut,” Brittany murmured.
“Which is why we had the chef make you homemade ice cream,” my mother said.
