Anna snorted. “Yeah. When you’re around, she’s more uptight.”
“It’s always been like that. She’s too close to Mom and Dad. She always sides with them.”
It made me sick. Rebecca did whatever our parents wanted. I was the only one brave enough to stand up to them. To tell them to take their rules and their social status and their stupid money and shove it up their asses. I wanted nothing to do with them. But Rebecca needed them.
Our dad had promised to invest in Rebecca’s dream of owning a restaurant. She’d recently found a building and would be opening soon. I wouldnevertake their money. I’d be indebted to them forever. Not that my dad would offer it to me since I was such a disappointment to them.
“It’s still tense between you two?” Anna asked.
“Sometimes. She’s skeptical of why I’m still living here and always on my case about how I’m living. After things crashed and burned, I needed a change, which is why I came here. I’d hit rock bottom, and I was terrified. I thought Rebecca might be happy to have me here, but it’s been an uphill battle with her for the last two years.”
“Why have you stayed? We would be more than happy to have you back,” Riley said, and Anna nodded in agreement.
“I fell in love with the town, the people, and the different lifestyle. After a few months here, I felt like I could finally breathe again. It hit me soul deep, and I wanted to start over.”
“I can understand that. This town is lovely, and the people in it are awesome. Your friends and the Sunday night dinner might be my favorite thing of all,” Riley said.
Sunday night dinner was my favorite too. When Mindy married Frank, she started the weekly dinners. Our growing group of friends formed a family by choice since some of us didn’t have parents, and others (like me) didn’t speak with theirs. It took a while for everyone to open up to me, but I finally felt like part of the group.
“They are pretty amazing.”
“What about the grumpy sheriff?” Anna asked with a smirk.
“What about him?”
“How’s he been?”
“Ornery.” I laughed. “But keeps to himself. We don’t really interact that much aside from Sunday dinners.”
“So no love connection?” Riley joked.
I threw another throw pillow at her. “Definitely not.”
“What’s the plan for today, ladies?” Anna asked. “I want to go to Frosty Mug Tavern for our last night here.”
“You’ll be hungover on the plane.”
She stuck her tongue out at me. “We have a three o’clock flight. Besides, you know I don’t get hangovers.”
That was true. I’d always been jealous that she could let loose without feeling the effects the next day.
“We could go shopping, or we could ask the girls to get together and maybe go into the city. There are some great shops and good food.”
“Yes, that!” Riley shouted. She jumped up and headed for her suitcase.
“Okay then. Sounds like a plan. Will one of you call Rebecca? She’ll be more likely to come if it’s not me calling.”
Anna picked up her phone and started dialing while Riley and I fought over who would get to use the bathroom first. I missed these girls and wished I’d hung out with them more when we lived together instead of always sneaking out with Alessandro. You live and you learn, and I always had to learn the hard way.
“WHERE ARE YOU GOING?” Rebecca asked. Even though her tone was light, her question grated on me. Our parents had asked me that same question so many times that it triggered my anger immediately.
“Work,” I said. I tugged on my black yoga pants, then bent down to dig through my closet for my tennis shoes. I’d kicked them off after we went to the city yesterday and put on a pair of heels to go to the bar.
“Mom called again while you were gone,” she said.
I’d taken Anna and Riley to the airport early since I had to work and Rebecca was too hungover. My old roommates partied hard, celebrating their last night here and Rebecca’s new restaurant. Shots were involved, and the drinks flowed freely. I quit drinking early. Someone had to be responsible.
Mindy and Kate were there, but they had families and had left at a decent time. The bar had been empty since it was a Thursday night, but the owner was so happy to have us there that he let us play whatever music we wanted. At one point, Riley and Anna ended up on the bar doing their own rendition ofCoyote Ugly. It was highly entertaining.