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“Later?” Ipassed my hands over my face and through my hair. “Eleven on every fu—gosh darn day is late. There’sno later than that.”
“And Ithought we weren’tmeddling with each other’swork?” The way he leaned against the counter, and even worse, how he licked his lips while watching me hungrily again, threw me into momentarily dementia.
“You—I—ugh.” Iwent for my phone and avoided his annoyingly hot stare. “I’mbuying us tickets. You’re free to go.”
His fingers curled around my wrist. “Don’t. Ihaven’ttaken aday off since ever. Even the big guy rests one day of the week.”
“Nice comparison.” He forced me to tilt my head up when his tall frame crowded my space. Itoyed with the idea of kissing him fully on his ever-smiling mouth. Besides apeck on the cheek on the other bike rides we had had together, when Olivia was with us, Ihadn’ttouched him. And I’dmissed him.
“Ididn’tjust say that Olivia is like my little sister. Imeant it. Couldn’tsay no to her.”
“Please,pleasedon’timply we are siblings in any way.” My face scrunched, disgusted to my core.
“Zach! Hi!” Olivia came into the kitchen dressed to leave and no longer crying. She ran straight into Zach and leaned into aquick hug. “Thank you for agreeing to take us.”
“At least someone wants me around.” He studied her face, less amused than before. “You’ve been crying? Whose butt do Ineed to kick?”
“You’ll see later.” She chuckled after two days of crying and almost-crying and in that moment, Iadored Zach. More than adored him.
Islipped into my room, showered, dressed, and put on my new low-cut mocha dress. When Zach’ssilence became too obvious, Ihanded him Olivia’sduffle bag to give him something to focus on that wasn’tmy boobs. Not for too long, anyway.
Zach lightened the mood on the drive over, missing Olivia’sgeneration by adecade with songs like “Baby One More Time,” “MmmBop,” and “It’sGonna Be Me.” She started by making fun of us, agiven, then surprised me by singing softly in the back of the Mercedes. Iliked him even more for that and for not calling her out on it. He just let both of us be.
After four long hours and one pee break, we parked in front of Mom and Dad’splace. Iturned to Olivia and caressed her knee. She didn’tregister that Iwas there, biting her nails, looking away from the old house.
“I’mhere, remember?”
“Yeah. It’snot liketheycare. They’ll make ascene anyway.” She rolled her eyes, masking her nervousness.
“Doesn’tmatter. No one can hurt you while I’mhere. Let’sgo.”
Zach placed his hand on my shoulder when Imoved for the car handle. “If you need me to come with, just say the word.”
“Thanks, we’ll be fine,” Iassured him, adding, “Imean, Ican handle them. Ican.”
“Whatever you say. If you do change your mind, wave and I’ll come guns blazing.” He relaxed back in the leather seat, hands crossed behind his head.
Iwanted to tell him Iappreciate him and to thank him again, but Olivia was already out, carrying her bag. Inodded firmly instead, squared my shoulders, and left the safety of the car to get this over with.
The charming one-story house Igrew up in looked lovely on the outside. The soothing pale blue paint betrayed the miserable people and miserable memories it held within. Iwished, like Ihad on any other visit, for this one not to be as bad as my gut told me it’dbe.
Sucking in abreath, Iwalked over to them with Olivia close behind. They stood on the porch, both wearing their worn-out jeans and T-shirts. They held their perpetually disappointed glares. Mom fastened her hands on her hips and Dad’slips stretched in atight line.
If it hadn’tbeen for my sister, I’dhave opted to spend the holidays without them and wouldn’thave missed them in the slightest.
“Ihope you enjoyed your little adventure.” Mom directed her daggers at my sister. “You’ll be spending the rest of the summer in your room, catching up on all the material you missed out on and more. Now get inside.”
Olivia hugged me, then climbed the stairs to the porch. “Great to see you too, Mom.”
When none of them made the minimum show of emotion, not sparing her alook or ahug, she huffed an exasperated breath and scuffed her feet through the door.
My stomach twisted at the sight. Ihad to talk to them, convince them to treat her better or just act as if she weren’tinvisible. The tiresome argument would be worth it, if it provided Olivia ashot at having adecent relationship with them.
Ilifted my chin, walked up to where they were, and leaned against one of the house’spillars.
“That was nice. Real nice, Laura.” Dad couldn’thide his contempt. Not like he was trying.
Alot of comments rushed through my head and Itoned them down so they wouldn’tbackfire on Olivia. “We need to talk about Olivia and her dreams that don’tinclude going directly to college.”
