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“You were like that from the moment you stepped on that bus wearing his jacket the first day of our freshman year.” Judith paused to smile. “Don’t pretend otherwise. And we all had bets on when you’d be married.”
“High school sweethearts don’t last.”
“Hey.”
“You and Justin are an exception, not the rule.”
“Thank you. I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me in a long time.”
“Is it?” Katrina looked over at her sister-in-law, perplexed. “Have I really been a bitch towards you?”
“Not a bitch. Indifferent. And that happens to be worse.”
“I swear I’m really not, I’m just... I’m just...” Katrina shrugged. “It’s hard to see my little brother married to someone I used to play Barbies with.”
“He used to play with us, too.”
“He did? Yeah, I suppose he did, bringing his GI Joe back from war to be with his wife which was always you.”
“And then he did it for real.”
Katrina sighed as her eyes drifted down to Lorenzo’s face. He looked serene despite the bruises, the stitches, the swelling. “I’m glad you got your happy ending, Judith.”
“Oh, trust me, marriage is work, especially when I have to compete with you.”
“You’re not competing with me.”
“All the years you were heartsick over this boy right here? Yeah. Yeah, I’ve had to. Every time you call for Justin, he’s there.”
“Except today.”
Judith’s smile was tight. “I offered to bring your coffee. He really did have to go into work. What about you?”
“I’m taking my leave early.”
“That’s sure to piss Emily off.”
“I’m sure it will. Hey, Judith...I don’t hate you. I swear. I’m just—”
“Emily’s puppet?”
“No! No, I’m... fuck, am I?”
“And now that Lorenzo’s back?”
“I don’t know.” Katrina brought his hand up to her lips and kissed the back of it softly. “I don’t know.”
***
Katrina always foundsolace in taking her run at the park. It was more than the sneaking into the woods to grab a smoke, which she was quickly becoming addicted to. Out on the trail with nothing but her music was a great way to calm her mind as well as keep her in shape for cheerleading. She was done with her homework, done with practice, and done with Emily’s attitude that she’d been throwing her way.
She picked up the pace as she neared the clearing in the woods, wondering if the boys had made their getaway from football practice. Did she want to find out? Or did she want to continue her run, continue to put space between her and the girl drama that she so desperately wanted out of?
Her feet followed the worn path into the woods, and she almost cursed out loud. It wasn’t her fault that she and Lorenzo got along so well, it wasn’t her fault that Emily had a problem with it. It wasn’t her fault that she and her brother had a close bond, one that outsiders couldn’t interfere with. And it wasn’t her fault that her cheerleading schedule clashed with Emily’s drill team one.
Once she reached the clearing, her running ceased.
Lorenzo was there, leaning on a tree and smoking a cigarette, his eyes off in the distance, almost as if he didn’t notice she was there at all.
