“You could try. We both know his wife likes me too much to let him bully me.”
“Yeah, lucky you. I’m not sure that’s the brag you think it is unless you’re in the market for a cougar,” I grumble.
“Don’t be gross. Maybe you’ll have the chance to suck up to her a bit while you’re working there and won’t be so jealous. We both know you’re trying to deflect.”
“What makes you think I want to be her favourite person in the world? There’s no universe in which I’d suck up to her, Ash. I prefer it that she doesn’t like me. It means I don’t ever have to visit or listen to her endless rants about the poorly maintained highways. You’d think she was on the town council or something with how many opinions she seems to have about everything around her.”
“Woof, there’s a lot to unpack there.” His laugh is soft, vibrant. “Let me know when you’re back, and I’ll swing by again. I was thinking the three of us could go out this weekend after Rowe’s comp. You’re coming with, right? It’s sure to be a Faye-free night.”
As if Rowe would have told me about when and where he’s competing next. We don’t need a repeat of what happened last time. I think I’m even more volatile now.
Still, I can’t keep from asking, “What comp? Where?”
“Ah, shit. Forget I said anything. Tell him that I’ll call tomorrow.”
“Nope. Give me the info, you little sneak.”
“It’s out in Ponoka. That’s all you’re getting from me.”
I swap my phone to my other ear and stretch out the tight muscles in my neck. “Fine. If he makes it through tonight, I’ll make sure he knows to call you in the morning.”
“What does that mean? Are you giving him a hard time?”
My scowl is instant. “You don’t have to make it sound like I’m bullying him. He’s not exactly warm and fuzzy to me either.”
“I know how you are when it comes to him. Are you really getting along that poorly? Still?”
“Don’t saystillas if we haven’t been out of each other’s lives for years. And I’m not talking about this with you right now. My mood’s already bad enough,” I say bluntly.
“If this is about the crush you had on him, Tills, I already knew about that?—”
I cut it off with a rough noise. “Nope. Stop talking.”
“It’s true. You’re my twin sister. Did you really think you could hide that from me? Is that what’s going on now too? Are you still into him?”
“Ash,” I snap, debating throwing my phone into the parking lot. “Drop it.”
“So you are, then.”
“Stop before I hang up on you. I’m serious. This isn’t a topic for us to be discussing, especially when you’re not here for me to beat up if you say the wrong thing.”
He sighs harder than necessary. “Fine. But you do know that you can talk to me about these things, right? I know we haven’t seen each other all that much and that the last few years have been hard. I’m still your brother, Tilly. Yourtwin.”
“I know.” My annoyance deflates, making room for guilt to come rushing in. “I’ll text you when I get back, and we’ll make plans to do something. With or without Rowe. I promise.”
“Sounds good. Just try not to go at him too hard. He’s got his own shit he’s dealing with too. It just doesn’t always look like it.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll try to remember that.”
We say goodbye, and I hang up, letting my phone stay against my ear for a beat longer. I lean harder against the wall, closing my eyes and sliding my phone into my pocket. Without looking at the time, I know it’s late. Too late to be standing out here by myself with all of our shit with me.
One more minute.
If he’s not back in a minute, I’ll go inside and call Ash back. He’ll come get me, no questions asked. That’s just my brother. He’s too giving sometimes.
Blowing out a breath, I force my eyes open. The flood of headlights has my stomach launching into my throat. I push away from the wall and swing one foot in front of my body. If it weren’t for the PS brand on the passenger door, I would have mistaken the truck for someone else’s when it pulls into the lot with a shoddy silver trailer behind it.
Rowe parks in between two rows of parking stalls, and then I’m moving. With our bags in my hands, I rush down the balcony and take the stairs two at a time. He doesn’t get out or turn the truck off, but that doesn’t stop me.
