“Sandy, enough!” I yell, using my hand to push Dalia behind me, and block her from the onslaught of my sister’s drunken rage.
Throwing her glass across the roof, it smashes against the far cement wall. “I get it now, I really do, Lyle. Nothing I do will stop this, will it? And now there’s a damn baby—” Raking her fingers over her head, she sets one hand on her hip and grips her jaw.
She’s gone nuts. I’ve never seen her so unhinged. This isn’t the sister I know. This is someone else.
“Sandy, stop, just stop already. You know I love you, but as a sister. I love you as my sister, and nothing will ever change that.”
“Fuck you, Lyle. You’re going to stand there and tell me you love me?” Throwing a hand to her chest, her mouth falls open as she lets out a sarcastic laugh. “You hear that?” she asks as she looks over at Dalia. “He says he loves me. He loves me like the sister I am. How fucking sweet of him.”
She takes a step to the side, like she’s trying to get closer to Dalia. I don’t like the look on her face. It’s her eyes, the way they’re so black right now. Her pupils have taken over her eyes, creating giant, empty holes.
I move with her, blocking her completely from Dalia. Dalia and the baby are my priority now, I have to keep them safe. There’s a certain level of danger on the roof at the moment with my sister. I don’t trust her. She’s so fucked up, she could do something stupid. I won’t risk it.
“You’re drunk, Sandy, and it’s been a long day. Why don’t you just go home and sleep it off? You don’t want to say or do anything you’ll regret.” Both my palms are out and open, doing my best to keep the peace.
Smooth and calm, just keep your cool.
Patting the air, I mirror her steps, becoming a wall between her and Dalia. I don’t even want Sandy looking at her.
Her lids drop, pupils turning to pinpricks as she takes in deep and heavy breath like a bull ready to charge. “Do you have any idea what I’ve done for you?” she asks, turning all her attention on me. “Do you know what it feels like to see you kissing her, or finding out you fucking knocked her up? Hm, Lyle? Do you know what that feels like?”
Sandy throws her arms out against my chest and gives me a hard shove. “I’ve done everything right. I’ve done everything to be perfect for you! And you never fucking noticed! You were too fucking blind to see it when it was right in front of your fucking face!”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask, brows furrowing.
“Me! You never saw me!” Slapping her hands against her chest, her eyes jump open, exposing all the whites. “I’ve been standing right in front of you! No one knows you better than me, Lyle! But instead you give yourself to her! To her! Why? Why haven’t you ever looked at me the same way you look at her?” Her voice is straining as she holds back drunken tears.
“Sandy, you’re my sister. I love you as my sister, that’s it. That’s all it will ever be. I don’t know where you got this idea in your head, but our relationship will never be more than that.” Slicing the air with my hand, I look back at Dalia, and reach for her hand. “With Dalia it’s a different kind of love. Dalia owns my heart and my soul. I love her with everything, and I always have.”
Looking back at Sandy, I don’t see understanding in her eyes. I don’t see compassion or even a hint of longing to have what we have. All I see is hate and anger.
Her lip curls up like a rabid animal, her eyes turn black, and her chest puffs up as she holds her breath. Her nostrils begin to move, flaring wide in and out as she finally starts to breathe.
“It doesn’t matter, none of this shit matters. I don’t care how happy you two think you are, or how much you want to have your perfect house with a white picket fence. I’m going to ruin your fucking lives. You hear me? I’m going to fucking destroy you.” Sandy jabs a finger in the air, stabbing it at both of us. Her eyes flick back and forth, bursting with flames.
Storming off, Sandy goes back inside, slamming the heavy door behind her.
This is going to be bad. I know instantly she’s going to do something rash, something thoughtless. And it’s going to hurt at least one of us.
“Shit, she’s going to go do something stupid.” Looking back at Dalia, I squeeze her hand and give it a little tug. “I need to get in there before she does something she won’t be able to take back.”