“She’s here.” Fear rushes through me. I don’t know why.
“Ready?” he whispers.
“No.” Then I giggle. “Yes.”
I push the door closed enough for me to see them, but they can’t see me. Hopefully. Eli reaches for the doorknob and looks back at me, smiles, then turns the handle. When it’s fully open, I see her. Amber. Wearing one of Carley’s favorite dresses.
That little witch. Carley’s been looking for that dress.
“You’re not Emma,” Eli says like he’s a natural.
“She sent me. Said she didn’t want to see you again. She said, and I quote, ‘You can have him.’”
Wow, that’s a terrible thing to say to a guy.
“Oh.” Eli’s acting skills just took a dive. I’d laugh if this wasn’t so sickening. He follows up with a shrug. “Whatever. Come on in.”
Amber steps into the living room and looks around. “I forgot how nice this place was.”
Sureshe did. I’m tempted to step out of the laundry room, but I sort of want to wait. Hear what else she’ll say.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“Beer?” she asks as she walks around his living room, touching things like the silver frame on the shelf next to the fireplace. There’s an old box next to that that seems to make Amber pause. When she picks it up and looks inside, I see the glint in her eyes from here. There must be something good inside.
Eli walks into the living room with Amber’s beer, so she quickly places the box back on the shelf. “Thanks.” She taps her bottle against his. “To being single.”
Eli releases an awkward chuckle. “Single. Yeah.”
“You doing okay after my sister dumped you?”
Like she cares.
“I’m doing just fine.” Eli nods, then winks at my sister. Now Ireallyhate winking.
“I’ve gotta say, Eli. You dodged a bullet with that one.”
Is she for real? Dodged a bullet?
“How so?”
This ought to be good. Or bad, I suppose.
“She was a problem child. Had to see therapists growing up. My parents are pretty convinced she’s got some sort of psychopathy.”
No, that was her. Not me.
“Psychopathy?” Eli’s doing a good job playing along. At least I hope it’s an act.
“You know, like someone who only thinks of themselves.” Amber rolls her eyes. “That’s her in a nutshell. She doesn’t care about anyone but herself.”
“That isn’t the Emma I know. Or knew.”
“Well,” she scoffs, “she was great at hiding it.” Stepping closer to Eli, she smiles at him. “See? You dodged a bullet.” Setting her beer next to the little wooden box, she reaches for his shirt and that’s it. I’m not about to let that sister of mine touch my boyfriend.
“You’re horny, huh?” I watch as she runs her hands up his chest. “Fifty for a blowy. A hundred for a fuck. Three hundred for anal.”
My mouth drops open. Why would it not? Shock does that. She literally just asked him to pay her for sex. I can’t imagine what Eli must be thinking.
