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“Yeah. In a bar,” I answer.
“Have you planned a schedule for this week?” Agnes interrupts us by stuffing a piece of bread ten times too big for her little mouth. “I have! For example, tonight, when we arrive—”
I don’t doubt it for a moment. I pour her a glass.
“You’re going to be completely exhausted after the flight,” I warn her gently. “We can explore Denver starting tomorrow.”
She makes a small pout but nods nevertheless. “And the people, are they nice or are they mean?” Agnes asks.
“They’re nice, you’ll see.”
Aunt Emma serves herself a portion of chicken with satay sauce before handing me the dish. My stomach gurgles at the smell, and my mouth salivates. I could eat a whole boxer by myself. As I dip the spoon into the dish, my sister leans towards me.
“And am I going to meet your boyfriend?” ask Agnes.
I almost choke as I suspend my action.
“Come on, Agnes,” my aunt gently lectures her, “don’t ask such questions.”
“What? You don’t have a boyfriend?” Agnes whispers in a sad little voice.
I can see that my aunt is also waiting for an answer. My first instinct would be to yell that I don’t. That’s probably what I would have said a few days ago, but the situation has changed. Last night, Tucker and I agreed to be exclusive. He’s not literally my boyfriend as my little sister might think, but there’s something.
No matter how many times I lie to myself, I know I feel something for him. I just don’t have the courage to let that feeling grow inside me. I prefer to convince myself that it’s just sex. I’m hiding behind that pretext.
“I…I’m seeing someone,” I finally admit, softly.
“What’s his name?” shouts Agnes. “Is it the one I talked to on the phone the other day?”
“Yes, that’s him.”
My aunt also leans towards me, her dark eyes thoughtful. “That’s a surprise. I hope he’s not a bad boy.”
I twitch at her words. I can’t help but defend Tucker when he’s not even here. “He’s exactly how he should be.”
Aunt Emma taps her manicured index finger on the table.
“I just want to make sure he’s good to you. You’re a beautiful young girl new in town, so maybe he—”
“No,” I cut her off firmly. “In fact, it’s me who’s taking advantage of his…body,” I whisper to her so that Agnes doesn’t hear.
She jolts at my candor and opens her lips, shocked by my answer. She grabs her fork to continue eating, saying nothing more, but one detail catches my eye. I see the rose gold bracelet on her wrist and immediately reach for it. The last time I saw this bracelet, it wasn’t on her wrist.
“What the hell?” I shout.
“Iris! No curse words in front of your sister, please.”
I get up from my chair, put both my hands on the table and lean towards her. “What’s that shit on your wrist? This bracelet is not yours.”
She quickly touches the jewel, a guilty look on her face. “Oh, I…um…I don’t understand.”
No way I’m going to play her game. “It belonged to my mother. My father had given it to her many years ago. I remember it very well. I put this in her jewelry box myself when we packed everything. Why is this on your wrist?! Did you take anything else?”
“‘Take’? Like I stole something?! I remind you that their boxes are in my garage, so I—”
“Give it back.”
She raises her eyebrows. My little sister stares at us, distraught. She chews on a piece of potato, her eyes round.
