“If you tell anyone that, I’ll shave half of your head in the middle of the night.” She tugs on the strands harder in warning. “I’m extremely stealthy.”
“She’s done it before,” Billy agrees, letting us know that as much as he pretends not to be listening, he totally is. That’s been our dynamic since we were kids—Darla and me actively being friends and him our quiet shadow who only interacts when he feels inclined to. A lone wolf lingering near a pack.
“Consider me warned. Now can you please finish my haircut? I’ve still got to give my mom her trim, and she was talking about getting a design.”
“Not until you text him.”
“Text who?”
Darla rolls her eyes at me in the mirror. “The Pope.” She snatches up my phone from the bathroom counter and drops it in my lap. “George Hot Pilot Bunsen. I want to see proof that you’ve accepted his offer. Only then will I make you look like the gorgeous hussy you are.”
I grumble at the continued blackmail but still pull up our short text string on my phone.
Me:Hello. This is Beth. Shawn’s sister. I wanted to ask if you’re still willing to give me flight lessons?
“Why did you type it like that, you weird-ass robot?” Darla leans over my shoulder because my friend doesn’t understand personal space or privacy. “You’ve exchanged texts before. He knows who you are.”
“I don’t know! Maybe he deleted all proof of our communication from his phone.”
“You’re hopeless. Honestly, how do you survive in the world?”
My phone vibrates.
George:I know who you are, Beth. I have you saved in my phone. And yes, the offer stands.
I hesitate one more time, then respond.
Me:Then I would like to accept.
“Is that the way you talk to him in person, too? Do rich people insist on being formal or something?”
“No. I just…”…am super horny for a guy who doesn’t like me so I’m trying to keep my distance.“He’s going to be my teacher. I want to be respectful.”
Darla scoffs. “That better be what it is. Because if you start acting all prim and proper when Shawn comes around, I’m going to ask Billy to dunk my head in the fryer.”
“Done,” he calls out.
“That’s dramatic.” I meet her glaring gaze in the mirror. “And I wouldn’t. He’s my brother.”
“Exactly. He’s family. Stop feeling so guilty about this supposed debt you have with him.”
I groan, regretting explaining the whole situation to Darla. “But Idoowe him.”
“Not the way I see it.”
“That’s what you would do with Billy?” I jerk a thumb toward the kitchen, where her twin is still pretending his phone is the most interesting thing in this house. “You’d just take his money and never pay him back?”
“If he lived in a penthouse? Yes. In an instant. Hell, I already take half of his food.”
“I’m keeping a tab,” he announces.
“Shove it up your ass,” Darla sings back.
“I don’t want to be another leech in Shawn’s life,” I interject between their sibling taunting.
“You’re not a fucking leech.” Darla snaps the scissors as if warning me against ever using the descriptor again. “You’re his sister. And you’re too nice to him.”
“Have you considered that you’re a tad bit too mean to him?”
