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“Try me.”
“It’s been a fucked up week. I already missed one game. I’m missing another one tomorrow. It looks like I’m going to miss the first game of the season. I’m fucking pissed. And every time I open my mouth with Everly, the wrong thing comes out. She wants to wait on me, and that’s the last fucking thing I want. She’s not supposed to be taking care of me.I’msupposed to take care of her. That’s how this works.”
“Bullshit.” Bellamy walks into the kitchen with her hands planted on her hips and such a pissed-off expression on her face, I should probably be scared. “Jesus. Do you even hear yourself?”
When I don’t say anything, she moves past me and pulls the food Mrs. Ashburn left for us out of the refrigerator, then turns on the oven. “Do you think Mom never took care of Dad?”
When Ares and I don’t answer, she makes a noise somewhere between a shriek and a groan, and Jax laughs at her. “Don’t be a dick like your daddy and uncle when you grow up, Jaxon.”
“Hey—” I start, and she puts her hand up.
“Just stop, Cross. You’ve been a bear all week.All. Week.And Everly has done nothing but take it. She’s helped with the kids. With you. With anything you needed, and you’ve been mean. And now you’re saying it’s basically because your ego is bruised. Grow up.”
“My ego? What the hell, Bellamy?”
She pops the chicken in the oven, then crosses her arms over her chest, ready to spit fire. “Did Helene ever do anything for you? Hmm?”
“She’s got nothing?—”
“Answer the damn question, Cross,” my sister demands.
The sad thing is I can barely even remember a time she took care of Kerrigan. “Helene never did anything that wasn’t for Helene. Why?”
“Because somehow, you’ve gotten it in your head that you’re supposed to be the one who does everything. That’s not howrelationships work. You’re supposed to do things for each other. Let her take care of you, Cross. Don’t push her away because she’s a strong equal and not a damsel in distress.”
“I’m not,” I argue.
Ares moves next to Bellamy, like they’re working together for an intervention. “You are, brother. Even I can see that.”
“Well fuck,” I groan.
“Might be grand gesture time, man.”
I look between the two of them. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this. What do you think I should do?”
“The fashion show is this weekend.” Bellamy grabs an envelope off the counter. “Everly left tickets for all of us.”
Fuck. I forgot that was this weekend.
Bellamy hands me the envelope but doesn’t let go. “You think your head will be okay in a roomful of people?”
“Guess we’re going to find out.”
Cross
I’m sorry I’m an asshole, and I’m sorry I can’t seem to stop.
Cinderella
I kinda like that you’re the one giving me whiplash for a change. It’s nice not to be the one in the wrong for once.
Cross
You still staying at your place tonight?
Cinderella
Yeah. Practice sucked and I’ve got to be at the shop early tomorrow. Then practice again tomorrow night. Saturday is the fashion show and Sunday is a home game. It’s going to be a crazy few days.
