I was pissed.
Cam is in the crosshairs of a domestic terrorist. It’s so dangerous that Celia and Flint assigned her a bodyguard. They even stashed Cam and Aaron in a safe house. Why the hell she was traipsing around the damn woods is beyond me.
“It’s not his fault either,” Celia clucks her tongue at me. “I don’t know why you’re so fluffing mad at all this. She’s going to be okay.”
I shake my head. “Why won’t you tell me who the guy is? I can have a little -conversation- with him.”
“Because I know that conversation would include your fists, and I happen to like the guy,” Celia tilts her head at me. “And once this situation is settled, I think you’ll like him, too.”
I roll my eyes. My twin sister is in hospital isolation, fighting radiation poisoning, and my youngest sister is matchmaking. This is ridiculous.
“I don’t need your hookups, sis.”
“So, you’re dating someone?” Celia’s eyes light up.
I frown.
She laughs. “That’s a no, then.”
I go back to pushing my macaroni around the plate. I know Cam is going to be okay. Doctors are giving her treatment for the radiation poisoning, but that doesn’t save her from the terrorist known as Dakota Hell.
“What happened to Sean?”
“We broke up. Months ago.”
“What? Why?”
I stare at my sister. “Because he preferred the company of men, and I was only fostering him anyway. At least he didn’t try to change me. I know now it’s because I couldn’t change into what he wanted. But it doesn’t matter. All men want me to do is - change. Like I’m not good enough as I am. Maybe I’m not.”
Celia lets out an exasperated sigh and then drinks her terrible hospital coffee. She flinches but keeps drinking. Celia stopped drinking sweet coffee and tea ever since a serial killer poisoned her in Mississippi.
“Every time you say something like that, it’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Celia folds her hands together.
“Can’t we talk about something else?”
“Any prospects?”
I pick up my Archangel Michael medallion and rake it back and forth on the chain as I consider my answer. I grin. “I did get a very detailed proposition from a known criminal the other day.”
Celia gasps.
“He’s a bad boy who has a nice government income. You know I’m a sucker for that.”
Something clatters behind me. I swivel around in my seat and see cafeteria workers cleaning up a stack of fallen trays.
I turn back to my sister, biting back a laugh at her horrified expression. “Kidding. I’m out of the bad boy business as well. Too much work.”
She shakes her head. “Laugh it up all you want.”
“You need to stop meddling,” I warn. “You’re turning into Mama.”
“Shut your face!”
“You shutyourface!” I laugh.
“Yourfaceneeds to shut its face,” Celia smiles. “Fine. I’ll lay off—no more matchmaking. I promise. Cross my heart. Hope to die. Stick a needle…”
“Pretty dark, sis.”
