by L.J. Shen
The next day, I’d texted Rob during my morning shift at Jerry & Sons and told him that Bear had asked for more time.
Rob: Thanks for the update. Will you keep me posted?
Me: Yes.
Rob: I ran into your dad downtown yesterday. He had a flat tire. Helped him fix it.
Me: Surprised he didn’t murder you.
Rob: He wanted to. It helped that we had an audience.
Me: Shame.
Rob: What would you say if I asked you to have dinner with me?
Me: I would say you are completely delusional and should probably lay off the drugs.
Rob: Gotcha. Will try again next week.
Cruz, however, was another story.
I had no responsibility toward him, and there were no loose ends for us to tie. He tried calling me in the morning, but I sent him straight to voicemail and sincerely hoped he wasn’t going to drop in at the diner.
We’d agreed to put our little affair behind us after the cruise, and now that we were back in town, there was no point in prolonging the inevitable.
Three days later, after a long shift full of patronizing customers and snafus, a local woman who accused me of trying to write down her credit card details when she paid (I didn’t) and Coulter, who had decided he was going to stop making food with onion since it made him cry, I rushed to the bridal salon where Trinity had a fitting.
I burst in midway through the event to find my mother sitting on a crème upholstered couch at the back of the bridal shop, bawling her eyes out, and Gabriella sipping from a flute of champagne with a sour face and a bright pink gown.
Trinity stood on the bridal viewing riser in her wedding gown, a flawless lace corset with a chapel train and an embroidered diamond belt.
She was pouting to the mirror, whining to the salon employee that the zipper was digging into her nonexistent back fat.
“How am I supposed to even drink water in this thing? I knew the cruise was a bad idea. I should’ve never hit the all-you-can-drink bar. Oh, hi, Nessy.”
She caught a glimpse of me through the floor-to-ceiling mirror in front of her. My mother and Gabriella turned their heads to look at me.
“Hi, honey.” My mother peeped, wiping the tears from her face. “Look how beautiful your sister is.”
Gabriella said nothing. I huddled across the parquet floor toward the sitting area and clapped my hands together.
“Trinity, you look divine.”
“I agree about the zipper. You could really use a bit more space. Or maybe just go on a crash diet. Atkins, anyone?” Gabriella murmured, her eyes hard on her phone as she scrolled through Instagram, liking people’s pictures with a grim expression on her face.
“She doesn’t have any extra weight to lose,” I pointed out, taking a seat next to my mother.
“There’s always weight to be lost,” Mom said longingly, patting her own midriff, which was genetically a little wider than she wanted it to be.
The shop employee excused herself to go bring her sewing kit and dashed out of the room. Trinity spun from the mirror, stepping down from the riser and approaching us.
“I was just telling Gabriella about the cruise. It was pretty lavish, don’t you think?”
“Yeah. Very posh.” I tried not to bring too much attention to myself, knowing Gabriella and I were not exactly best of friends.
“Yeah.” Gabriella flipped her dark hair onto one shoulder, sipping her champagne. “Cruz told me all about it.”
Did he now?
I didn’t think they’d have much reason to talk, considering they’d broken up.
Then again, I didn’t really think Cruz would be so happy to see Rob, either, and he’d had a back-slapping good time on my lawn.
“You guys are still talking?” Trinity chirped, her eyes lighting up. “That’s a good sign.”
I wanted to strangle my sister in that moment, but I reminded myself that she didn’t know Cruz and I had a thing.
Gabriella put her champagne on a nearby table, stretching her shapely legs. “Oh, yeah. We’re kind of finding our way back to each other. Slowly. I think we both freaked out a little, what with you and Wyatt getting married. It’s just a lot of pressure on both of us, you know? I have my new business—”
“Your new business?” The words flew out before I could stop them.
She preened. “My blog. It’s really taking off.”
Sounded insta-great.
Gabriella continued, “And I think he knows I’m the real deal, so he is…like, I don’t know, anxious?”
The word you are looking for is uninterested, honey.
“Makes perfect sense,” Trinity said. “I see the way he looks at you. He cares for you so much.”
I wanted to throw up so much.
“Did Cruz tell you Gabriella and he were on a break?” My mother turned to face me, oblivious to the bomb she’d just dropped in the room. “You two seem to be friends these days. I hadn’t even realized you were close until you boarded the right ship.”
Trinity’s and Gabriella’s gazes snapped toward me so fast I was surprised their eyes didn’t roll out of their sockets. I picked up a bridal brochure and flipped through it, feeling their stares scorching a path into my internal organs, willing myself not to blush.
“He might’ve mentioned that,” I murmured, but only because I wanted it to be known, in case word ever got out that Cruz and I had shared a fling, that he was single at the time.
Homewrecker was one thing I hadn’t been accused of.
Yet.
“Poor thing must’ve been beside himself.” Trinity put a hand to her heart.
He did all right. Especially when my mouth was wrapped around his penis and he kept telling me I was the most beautiful girl in town—the town in which you also reside…
The saleswoman returned to the room with her sewing kit, smiling broadly.
“Miss Turner, please return to the riser. I’ll take your measurements again so I can fix the zipper situation.”
Trinity did as she was told. I felt Gabriella’s eyes lingering on me, narrowed and menacing, and pretended to study a bridal article about skid marks on wedding gowns.
“By the way…” Trinity raised her blonde braid up so the woman could press the measuring tape to her waist. “Any news from Rob?”
“He was waiting for us outside when we came home from the cruise. Bear was upset about it. I spoke to him afterwards, and he doesn’t really seem ready to give Rob a chance.”
“It’s not his choice, though, is it?” Mom patted a piece of used tissue to her nose. “He’s just a kid. He should do whatever you tell him to do. And you should tell him Rob is his father and he needs to suck it up.”
That grabbed my attention.
I pinned her with a look of disdain.
“Excuse me? Are you expecting me to throw the trust and bond I have with my son out the window to appease and abide by the whims of a man who, until less than a month ago, pretended we weren’t in existence? Crew that.” I left the S out intentionally.
“I expect you to do the sensible thing and let him help you out.” Mom squared her shoulders, a haughty look on her face.
“We did fine before him. Bear’ll meet him when he’s ready, and not a moment earlier.”
“You’re being stubborn,” my mother stated.
You’re being judgmental.
Her lips pressed into a tighter line. “Take the money.”
Take your nose out of my business.
But I couldn’t say that.
I didn’t have the balls.
“Listen, Nessy, I honestly think he’s a changed man. I mean, he is trying really hard. Got a job with his old man and everything,” Trinity cooed, still staring at herself in the mirror. “Wyatt told me he came to visit the Costellos last night. They had a big dinner and all. Cruz and Wyatt were there, too.”
“Yeah. Cruz told me. We talked about it,” Gabriella automatically said, making it known that she and Cruz were speaki
ng.
Just piss on his leg, honey, why don’t you?
What bothered me more than my mother telling me to rush Bear into meeting Robert was the fact that Cruz seemed to become his buddy again right away. I felt so stupid for tumbling into bed with Cruz.
The two were probably comparing notes about me yesterday over beers.
“Look, I’m not saying Rob can’t see Bear or can’t live in this town. All I’m saying is that we’re taking it one day at a time and getting used to having him around again. That’s all.”
After Trinity had her measurements retaken, the three of us poured out of the store into the bright summer day. Gabriella air-kissed my sister on both cheeks and hugged my mother.
Mom laced her arm in Trinity’s and was about to guide her back to their car. Trinity put her hand on Mom’s elbow.
“Mom, get the car, will you? I have to talk to Nessy for a sec.”
Uh oh.
This couldn’t be good. Whenever my sister wanted to get me alone, it was because she wanted to chide me. More often than not, because of my manners and reputation. Last time that happened, she tried to force me to apologize to Tim Trapp for not going out with him.
I stood next to her like a punished child, awaiting the verdict after giving the dog a makeover.
When Mom was out of earshot, Trinity turned to me, a polite smile on her face. Like we weren’t two sisters with an unbreakable bond but strangers who’d happened to occupy the same house for twenty-three years before I moved out.
“Nessy, you know how much I love you.”
“I sense a but coming my way.” I folded my arms, already on the defense.
Trinity heaved a sigh, playing with the clasp of the Gucci tote Wyatt had bought her for Christmas. “But I noticed you were kind of throwing yourself all over Cruz while we were on vacation. Honestly, it was a little embarrassing to watch. Gabriella is my best friend and my maid of honor. I know I have no right to ask this of you, but could you please try to…back off? For me? I just couldn’t stand to see you hurt when you’re rejected like that, you know?”
I wanted to throw my head back and laugh. Instead, I stared at her, deadly calm.
“I have not been throwing myself at Dr. Costello.”
“You have to promise me you won’t make things complicated. I love you so much…” Again, that gass-covering, the thing she said before something hurtful came out of her mouth. “But you’re Messy Nessy, and a lot of people in Fairhope are calling this the wedding of the year. People are seeing me for a change. Please don’t ruin it for me. Please. I finally think I’m getting somewhere with Catherine.”
I was glad I was so good at hiding my feelings, because every single part of me wanted to puke on her sensible shoes. Instead, I flashed her one of my infamous pouts, shrugging as I let her comments roll off of my back.
A few construction workers passed us by and whistled at me on their way to a sandwich shop.
“Howdy, Messy Nessy. Oh, how I’d like to take you for a spin.”
Trinity scrunched her nose, disgusted.
“Worry not, little sis. I’m staying the heck away from Mr. Fancy Pants. Gabriella can have him.” And because I was tired of being the harlot who couldn’t bag a man, I added, “Rob wants another chance. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll give it to him. For all his faults, he’s still pretty hot.”
“Oh, Nessy, I heard he’s still gorgeous! A friend of mine saw him at a steakhouse out of town and said he’s a real dreamboat. You should totally go for it.”
She looked so relieved, so happy to share a piece of gossip so normal between sisters yet foreign to us, for a moment, I was actually tempted to.
Okay, not, but still.
Trinity threw her arms around me, squeezing me into an excited hug.
“Think about the story. Robert Gussman came back after all these years and got his family back! That’s practically a fairytale.”
Robert Gussman never had his family in the first place, but now wasn’t the time to correct her.
“Yeah.” I smiled, patting her back. “That’s a nice story.”
“Just stay away from Cruz. We don’t need that kind of drama on our hands.”
“Sure don’t.”
My promise to stay away from Cruz Costello lasted for a little over twenty-eight minutes.
Twenty-seven and fifteen seconds, if I were counting, which clearly, I wasn’t.
Not my fault, seeing as I walked through the door—to my house, mind you—and there he was, perched on the couch next to Bear, both of them holding joysticks, staring at the TV, wide-eyed, shouting at each other both directions and profanity in decibels more suited for Madison Square Garden.
“Take him. Take. Him. You have enough dexterity. I got your back, dude. Just aim for the heart,” Bear practically growled, elbowing Cruz. “Do you know where the heart is?”
“Yeah, jackass, I’m a doctor.”
“Well, good thing Mom takes me to Dr. Finch outta town, because your degree says heart, but your aim says leg.”
“I’m trying to get to the center, but the bastard keeps on throwing spike-bombs at me.”
“Dude!” Bear screamed, punching his joystick’s buttons with his thumb. “I’m a bastard.”
My throat clenched in horror, shame, and…yup, there it was, guilt, too, like I had a choice in the matter. I’d tried to shield Bear from this term for so long, had done my best to ensure he never felt less-than…
Cruz rolled his eyes, still staring at the TV as he moved his joystick from side to side. “If you’re looking for sympathy, better try next door. Here. I finished him off for you, n00b. Now let me trail back and find some life potions before I fucking expire.”
That finally made me snap out of the weird haze that had taken over me.
“Language!” I roared, slamming my purse against the credenza by the door. “This house is an F-bomb-free zone.”
“Sorry, ma’am,” Cruz murmured, eyes still glued to the TV. He then threw Bear a side-eyed smirk. “Your mom’s cute.”
“Shut up, dude,” Bear snarled, hitting Cruz’s arm with his joystick.
Cruz chuckled. “Payback’s a b—witch.”
“What are you doing here?” I strode in and stood in front of the TV, blocking their view of medieval-looking characters in capes running through a dark maze while fire bombs landed all around them while they shouted at me being in the way.
“Well, I live here.” Bear threw up his arms in surrender, as if he wasn’t at fault for letting Cruz in.
“And I gave him a ride because I saw him walking with a broken skateboard under his arm while I was on my way back to work.”
“Yup.” Bear looked up at me innocently. “That happened, too.”
“How’d y’all get from Dr. Costello giving you a ride to Dr. Costello sitting on your couch, helping you stab a gory monster to death?”
Also, I so didn’t have any extra money for a new skateboard. Was I going to have to take out a loan?
I spun around to turn off the TV, aware Cruz’s eyes were probably focused on my ass. I was still mad at him for hanging out with Rob and calling Gabriella, and frankly, for simply hogging oxygen on a planet where our resources were slowly but surely dwindling.
Note to self: donate to an environmental charity when and if I get my bleep together and pay back my debt.
“Bear said he was hungry, so I offered to make him dinner.” Cruz smiled winningly, undeterred by my less-than-eager reception.
“Good news is Bear is not three anymore and can make his own food.”
“But it’s better when other people make it for you,” Bear pointed out.
“Which reminds me.” Cruz stood up, throwing the joystick on the couch. “I need to check on the pasta sauce and chicken nuggets. Be right back.”
“I’ll come with you,” I volunteered.
We needed to exchange a word or seven.
In the kitchen, I closed the flimsy door behind us, trying to ignore the mouthwa
tering scent coming from the pot on the stovetop and focusing my gaze on him.
“What the heck, Cruz?”
“You’re not returning my calls,” he explained casually, dipping a finger into a pot full of tomato sauce and popping it into his mouth. He then proceeded to stir the sauce, before moving toward one of the cabinets with a familiarity I should have hated.
“That’s because we said we were done after the cruise.”
“About that. I changed my mind. I don’t want to be done after the cruise.” He moved around my kitchen like he owned the dang place, adding the pasta to the sauce and stirring everything.
“Sadly for you, it takes two to tango.”
“I’ll never tango with you, sweetheart. You’re one of the clumsiest people I’ve ever come across.”
“It’s a figure of speech. I don’t want to be with you.”
“Now, that’s just a flat-out lie, and as a policy, I don’t accept lies. Give me one reason why we shouldn’t continue sleeping together. Make it good.” He ambled to the oven to check on the chicken nuggets.
“I’ll give you a handful, just because I’m generous like that. One—you’re best friends with my ex, with whom I might get into a legal dispute with over our son.”
Cruz pulled the tray with the steaming chicken nuggets from the oven, waving me off. “Calling Rob more than an acquaintance at this point is a stretch. I met him for dinner because my mother invited him. We’re not going to shoot the shit anytime soon, and anyway, it will never go as far as a legal dispute, because Rob knows everyone in town would kill him if he pulled anything shitty.”
I snorted. “Yeah, because I’m Fairhope’s favorite darling.”
“No, but you’re the one who stayed and sucked it up. People’s loyalty lies with you, even if you’re not their choice for citizen of the year. Next reason, please.”
I let out a quick breath. Could it be that simple? “Gabriella. You’re still in contact with her.”
