I draw a long breath, pursing my lips and then folding them through my teeth. ‘Fine,’ I say. ‘I do like him, a bit.’
‘I knew it,’ she says, nodding sagely. ‘That’s why I came down here.’
‘You could tell all that from one text?’ I laugh. ‘That literally said nothing but… we fucked.’
‘You put three x’s at the end,’ she says, raising her eyebrows as if she’s a lawyer resting her case. ‘You’re clearly out of your mind and head over heels in love.’
I burst out laughing, covering my mouth as I kick her. ‘I am not.’
‘So what about Kyle? Did he ask you out yet?’
My eyes widen as I remember his text. ‘Oh my god,’ I say, my hand rising to my mouth. ‘I totally forgot.’
‘Forgot what?’
‘He asked me out. On a date. Well kind of, I asked him, then he said when.’
Felicity grins. ‘You dirty slut,’ she says. ‘Two guys at once?’
‘Oh shit,’ I say, panicking. ‘Fuck. What do I do?’
‘Go on the date,’ she says.
‘I can’t. Can I?’
‘Are you and Mr Ledger exclusive?’
I laugh. ‘No.’
‘Then go. Make him jealous.’
‘That’s cruel.’
‘Yeah, but can you imagine how hard he’ll fuck you when you get home?’
I burst out laughing now, blushing so hard I feel like a beetroot. ‘You are sick,’ I hiss.
Felicity smiles, her eyes softening as she looks at me. ‘It’s nice seeing you happy,’ she says. ‘I miss your smile.’
I nod, swallowing as I settle, for almost a minute we lie in silence together, just looking at each other, and then I take a big breath and whisper. ‘How’s dad doing?’
My sister nods, looking down at our hands clasped together on the sheets. ‘Holding up okay, I guess.’
I nod, trying to control my quivering lip as a wave of emotion, one that’s never far away, threatens to engulf me as I smile. ‘I miss her.’
Felicity smiles with me and then presses her forehead against mine. ‘I miss her too.’
*
An hour later I hear the front door click shut and I push away from my chair and stand, stretching my legs and cracking my knuckles.
I’ve had time to think whilst I’ve been sat here alone. Time to dwell and consider. Ever since last night, everything has moved so fast, but one sentence has resonated in my mind over and over as I’ve lain still in the dark all morning, waiting for Mackenzie to be alone.
I am yours, Mr Ledger. To do with you as you wish. And that sentence is driving me wild.
I need to know if it’s true, if she meant it, and I need to know why. I need her to give up her secrets, and her desires. No more surprises. No more bullshit. No more twin sisters on my doorstep. No more hiding tattoos. No more sneaking around in the dark. No more maybe boyfriends.
I step out into the corridor and head toward the stairs, taking them two at a time until I burst onto the landing, aiming straight for her door.