Which, in my experience, doesn’t bode well for me.
“I have something for you,” she says.
“For me?” I ask skeptically, bending down and kissing her cheek while Coby wiggles behind me.
“Yes. For your date with Aulie today,” she says, her eyes sparkling.
I chew the inside of my cheek, trying to fight back a sigh. “I don’t have a date with Aulie. I have a date with this squirt.” I pretend I’m about to flip Coby over my back, and he squeals, tightening his grip around my shoulders, almost choking me. “And Aulie just happens to be coming.”
“Oh, hush. Your sisters told me what you plan to do today—Grant, don’t sit on the cat, dear—so I’ll tag along.”
“What? Why?” My chest tightens. Coby’s hands wrap around my neck, obstructing my airways, and I sputter, lowering to the ground and unloading my passenger.
“You’re going to want some alone time with her, and the orchard is the perfect place for a nice walk.”
A crash and the shatter of glass follow from the dining room. I cringe. Simone and Lucy rush to the crime scene from different areas of the house, but Amy remains on the couch, staring into space, drinking a coffee she bought on the way here. “How are your flowers doing, Simone?” she asks.
I blink.
Is my sister seriously this checked out? What the hell happened to her?
My mom rummages through her oversized purse, pulling out a plastic bag. “Anyway, if you think I’m going to let you talk to Aulie in one of those holey denim pants and that leather jacket, you have another thing coming.” She thrusts the bag into my hand. “These are just something I picked up while getting baby clothes yesterday. I think they’ll suit you better.”
I swallow, opening the bag. A pair of dark-washed jeans and a cream cable-knit sweater sit inside.
I laugh. No freakin’ way am I wearing this.
An avalanche of books crashes to the floor and I flinch at the clamor.
Tom runs through the living room, almost slipping on the hardwood floor with his socks. “Not the medical journals! I just organized those.”
The picture of calm, Amy continues to sip her coffee. “Were you able to get Gio back up to Mr. Martin’s today? I imagine living so close to that goat must be such a pain.”
Again, I blink, taking in my absent-minded sister who I’ve always looked up to.
Do none of the adults in my life have their shit together?
Why the hell have I kept thinkingI’mthe fuck up?
“Thanks for the clothes.” I smile softly at my mother. “But I think I’m going to have to pass for today. I’m already dressed, and it sounds like we should be going soon.”
“I think it would be nice if you stopped covering up your sweet side, half-pint,” Amy says.
“Please don’t rip that page, Coby. Grant, seriously, where did you get that pen? That’s from my locked drawer. For the love of god, where did you find my scapula?” Tom’s horrified declarations continue, and I glance at Amy like,Maybe you should be doing something?
She merely takes another sip of her coffee and sighs happily, leaning deeper into the couch. “The fire feels nice in here, Simone. Is this your first one of the season?”
“Just humor your mother and try them on, please.” My mom presses a gentle hand to my arm, and I can’t deny a request like that.
“I’ll try them on for you, but I’m not promising to wear them today.” I march back to the bathroom, raise my shirt over my head, pull my sweater on, and change into the jeans.
With one glance in the mirror, I tip my head back and laugh. This is worse than I imagined. I look like the before in any rom-com Grady’s made me watch where the guy gets a makeover to win the girl over.
I needmoreconfidence to be honest with Aulie, not less.
No, this won’t do.
But I’ll humor my mother and show her—I’m sure she’ll be happy enough just to see me in the outfit, and then I can change.
