With six hours of classes, thirty hours at the café, and volunteering at the women’s shelter, adding more hours to my workload will cause me to crash and burn. But I need more money if I can’t pass these stupid classes.
Moments after my father moves on to another guest, Heather slides in next to me and braces her elbows on the table, plopping her chin in her hands. “I saw you drooling all over Alexander last night.”
“What?” I freeze with the pen in my hand. Not only did I have to write the list out, but now I’ve been relegated to penning the thank you notes. Julia wants to get them out tomorrow morning, but Wyatt whisked her to their room. Lucky her.
“I. Saw. You.” She bobs her head back and forth and bites her bottom lip. “I saw you following him around like a puppy, and when he left, you disappeared.”
Don’t say a word. If Julia finds out I screwed her husband’s cousin, she’ll snap. And tell my parents. Yes, I’m twenty-three years old and should be able to see who I want, but that’s not the case. If I disappoint my parents…. Shit. I always disappoint my parents.
She leans back in her chair. “I suppose you went home and cried yourself to sleep because he shot you down.” She smirks. “I’m surprised you had the balls to proposition him.”
Bitch. “That’s enough, Heather. My personal life and what I do with it is none of your business.” My hands ball into fists. “You’re my cousin, but that doesn’t mean I have to continue speaking and/or listening to you.”
“I’m right, aren’t I?” She laughs. “You’re so pathetic to think a man like him would notice someone like you. You are fat, ugly, and going nowhere. You must retake calculus because you were too stupid to pass it the first time. He’s not going to give you the time of day.” She pushes back her chair, stands, and looks at me down her nose. “The best you can hope for is a pity fuck. Or maybe if a guy got paid to screw you. Otherwise, you’ll grow into an old woman with ten cats and her hymen still intact.” She spins on her heel and marches out of the dining room with her heels clicking on the floor.
God, she’s a bitch. Tears sting my eyes, and I hastily blink them back before I turn into a blubbering mess. Is she right? Did someone pay him to have sex with me? Who? Would Wyatt do that? He would if my sister asked him to.
The room whooshes around me as the blood pumps in my ears. But why would she want him to do it? To laugh at me? No. She forgets to tell me thank you, but she doesn’t go out of her way to insult me.
So…. that leavesthe pity fuck. I can’t do this right now. I straighten everything on the table and stand.
My mom marches across the restaurant. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I have a headache.”
“First, you disappeared last night and left us to clean up the church, and now you’re trying to get out of helping your sister with the thank you cards?” She shakes her head. “I realize you’re jealous of all the attention she’s receiving, but you have an obligation to help your sister.”
“Do I?”
My mom’s mouth drops open. “What did you say?”
“I’ve done a lot for my sister. More than any sister should be expected to do. You can’t complain about how far I’ve gone to be there for her over the years.” I swallow hard as my heart thuds in my chest. “I’m sorry I don’t feel well, but I need to take medicine and lie down.”
“Fine.” She inhales. “You’ve done a lot for your sister, and I appreciate it.”
Breathe. Don’t forget how to breathe. “Thank you.”
“Go ahead and take the afternoon off, but I expect you to come to the house and finish these tomorrow.” She gathers the list and the cards, tossing them into a canvas bag that matches my sister’s wedding colors with their new last name embroidered on one side.
“I have work tomorrow.”
“Fine,” she sighs and shoves the bag toward me. “Take them with you and finish them when your headache is gone.”
“Sure. I’ll get to them when I’m feeling better.” I loop the strap over my arm. My headache will only go away when I get away from here, and at this point, I’m willing to agree to anything to get away.
“Don’t forget to put those pretty dove initial stickers on the back of the envelopes.” A waitress carries a tray of crepes and sausage, egg, and cheese sandwiches on a silver platter. The scent swirls around her as she passes by.
“Yes, ma’am.” Spit fills my mouth.
“And you can drop off grandma and grandpa at their apartment.”
“Mom, I don’t feel well.” Pain bangs in my head as nausea rolls in my stomach. I’ll get sick if I don’t get out of here soon.
“Don’t be catty and take your jealousy out on your grandparents. You have family obligations. I don’t know what’s gotten into you. This is so unlike you.”
“Fine. I’ll take grandma and grandpa home. That’s not a problem.”
Good girls take care of their obligations. And I’ve always been a good girl. I weave through the remaining guests to my grandparents. When they see me, they wave and smile. They’ve always been in my corner.