AllFreeNovel
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I’m firm. “For the last time, don’t apologize. It’s all over now anyway. I believe that.”
She gives in. “You’re going to have enough time to get back to school for the spring semester. And with how far ahead you’ve been you’ll still be on track to graduate on time. I’m so proud of you.”
I collapse onto my desk chair. “You might not be so proud of me when I tell you I’m not going on to the veterinarian program after all. Last year I changed my mind. I decided to go for a business degree instead. What would really make me happy and fulfilled is running a cat rescue. So when I graduate it’s what I’m going to work toward—in addition to working at the clinic again.” I tense as I wait for her response.
Blinking wide a few times. “Wait, you made the decision last year and are just now telling me? What happened?”
“I kept getting freaked out. My stomach would do that twisting tension thing. Started happening in the fall of my second year but I was afraid to admit it. I thought ‘oh, this will pass.’ It didn’t, it got stronger spring semester. Weirdly, the stronger a student I became the more I figured out I didn’t want to do it. Like how the hell was I looking forward to my business classes over my vet classes? Business was supposed to be the minor. The thing to help me be a stronger vet clinic owner, not where I could breathe.” It’s a relief to admit.
Studying me, she nods. “I always did wonder if you were really good for cutting open animals, even if it was to make them better. It wasn’t something I thought you could bring yourself to do. And shut up. I’m still so proud of you. You have dyslexia and your grades are way better than mine. And I don’t have half the classes you do.”
“You’re sweet, but all I can think is Carlo was right. It was a waste of money and time. The scholarship people were amazing in a way that made no sense when it came to flushing it all down the toilet. At this rate I’m never going to be able to move out of here. How can I actually support myself creating a not-for-profit? I’ll be working at the vet clinic until I’m too old to be on my feet all day,” I share my fear.
Tilting her head, Carina smiles. “If anything it will make you an even worse prospect for a mob wife. You’re twenty-three and Carlo hasn’t said a word about marriage since you went into school. You might just escape.”
I sigh. “God, I hope so. You too. Good job on the playing mute thing and way too much eyeliner and going to events in cosplay. Carlo would have to force you on a capo for someone to take you.”
She throws her head back and runs her fingers through her hair with a smug smile on her face. “Thank you. I do my best. I swear the men are so fucking stupid. Some of them think it’s because I don’t have a tongue or something, that Carlo cut it off. Half the time I’m sitting there wanting to scream how fucking stupid can they be?”
“I know, you’re usually digging your nails into my hand.” I laugh. “It’s even funnier how they get freaked out when we hold hands.”
Giggling, she buries her face into my pillow. “Men are stupid. Like painfully stupid.”
As I turn the phone around in my hands, I think of Milos. “Not all men. There are a few that aren’t. Unfortunately, they aren’t the ones who want women like us.”
“Milos?” She makes kissing noises.
“Shut up.” I throw a pen at her.
“You’ve been seeing him since you’ve been home while Mommy is sick.” It’s not a question.
Blushing, I shrug. She tried to get the story out of me after that night she walked in on us having dinner. But when it became clear I would never see or speak to him again, she let it go. “That will all be over soon. Especially if Mommy is better.”
Her green eyes go wide. “Why?”
“Because…” I sigh. “What does he want with someone like me? He’s been so sweet and supportive but I’m sure he’s also ready to be done with me. Men like him don’t…”
“Hey, obviously he does. Men like him also don’t waste time. If he didn’t want to be there for you he wouldn’t be.” Carina is up, hugging me.
I shake my head. “He’s being nice is all.” I’m sure of it. All he did was listen on the phone. He came to sit with me for the radiation since my mother was in another room while it happened, only for him to disappear before she was done. “I’m sure he’ll be relieved Mommy is fine so he won’t have to put up with me anymore.”
Carina sighs. “I don’t think so. Don’t make any hasty decisions.”
My phone rings. “It’s Mommy,” I tell her as I answer. I put it on speaker.
“Girls, it’s gone. A checkup in three months then another for every three months until we get to a year, and then we’re done.”
Tears of relief start pouring. I hug Carina so tight we both squeak from pain.
“Okay, I’m going home with your daddy. I’ll be home in a few days.” Then she hangs up.
For almost twenty minutes we both cry tears of relief. Finally we’re dry-eyed. An alarm goes off on Carina’s phone. “Fuck, I have to get to class. Are you good?”
Carina is doing a business degree at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Because Carlo laughed at her the same way he did to me when she asked if he would give her the money from our grandmother for school, she’s paying for it. She can only afford three classes a semester. For years Carina has been designing stickers and laptop skins. She actually makes really good money.
Her problem is she spends it almost as soon as she gets it. I talked to her for years about reinvesting into her business and even saving, considering there were times she was broke until she got paid out from the stores she ran online and couldn’t complete orders.
It's a little embarrassing my little sister and I were at the same point in school because I was held back a year due to my dyslexia. Carina has always been sweet about never letting me feel bad about it, or letting any of her friends say anything either.
