Fiona
“You realize a mimosa can’t be considered healthy, right?” I quipped at my sister Bea, who was on her third drink. Amanda—the oldest and most judgmental of us three—turned up her nose and gave me an annoyed look.
“There’s orange juice. Orange is a fruit. I’m on my third fruit serving of the day.” She sucked the straw into her mouth and flipped off Amanda. I snorted, but let the matter go. Amanda did not.
“It’s eleven on a weekday, Bea. When are you going to get a job?”
“I have a job. It’s not my fault you don’t consider bartending a job,” she fired back, but her tone changed to an icier one. It had been a hot topic the past year. She’d started working at a semi-controversial bar where bartenders danced on a stage and hung from rafters. Amanda hated it, our mom despised it, but I thought it was cool as hell.
“Anyway, sister dearest, thanks for inviting us to our bi-yearly sister brunch.” I held up my coffee mug to cheer them, but they ignored me and continued their stare-down. I was used to it, being the youngest. They’d had a rough time growing up together and, while I would always love my family, I didn’t particularly like them too often.
“You’re a shade away from being a stripper. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
Great. I love when this conversation happens again.“Amanda—”
She cut me off with a withering stare. “No, this doesn’t concern you, Fi. You basically show off your body to get tips, Bea. That’s not respectable. You hang from the ceiling. Is that the life you envisioned for yourself?”
“I envisioned a life with Landon, with kids and a house, but that all changed when he had a baby with someone else. So fuck you, Amanda. I make better money than you, can afford a nice studio with it and am just trying to get by. You think you’re so perfect with your cute little office job and your cute cheap work outfits—”
“Jade! Hey, girl, come join us!” I shouted at my friend and potential colleague the second she walked into the small café.Thank god.I couldn’t take my sisters’ bickering anymore. Her face lit up when she saw us and she made her way over to our small brunch table, her positive energy desperately needed. “Hey, Fiona, Amanda, Bea. Good to see you all.”
My sisters smiled and said the right things, but then they went right back into their stare-down. Jade gave me a questioning look, but I shook it off. “How’ve you been?”
“I’m about to meet my mom to begin planning the big event this spring, but more importantly, how is he?” She plopped down and grabbed my unused water. “Dish it all.”
“How is who?” Bea asked, curiosity replacing anger in her eyes. I had a soft spot for my messy middle sister—we had the same wild soul.
Jade paled and made a face at me. “You didn’t tell them, did you?”
“Nope. Thanks for that.” I took my time, getting one more drink of coffee before facing my sisters. “I’m coaching with Gideon Titan.” I enjoyed the look of shock on their nosey faces. Too often, they gossiped about my life, so it felt great to be the one holding all the secrets.
“What. The. Fuck,” Bea said, her voice rising way too loudly. “Holy shit. How? Why? How is he?”
“It’s all my doing, I won’t lie.” Jade popped her red lips and raised an eyebrow. “I heard whispers about his blow-up at a teammate. One of my brothers works for Los Soles and we have the connection. Gideon got in trouble last season and was forced to coach. My brother knows Fiona well and thought they would be evenly matched.”
“Wasn’t he one of the best players ever?” Bea widened her eyes and a blush crept up her neck. We had the same coloring and ability to blush instantly. It sucked. “Wow.”
“Uh, duh,” Jade scoffed and shared a look with me. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Jade knew my relationship with my sisters was rocky, but she sure liked the dramatic flair.
“He is the face of Los Soles. Or he was until he tore his ACL back in June. His recovery has been rough, I’ve heard. He’s an asshole now, but sometimes a rough guy can be great in bed.” Jade gave me a pointed look.
The hot tingles started in my cheeks and crept down my neck. Bea continued talking and ignored me, but Jade gasped. “Holy shit.”
“What?”
“You-you slept with him.” She pointed at me. “You did. I can tell.”
“Jade.” I shook my head, but now Bea and Amanda had all their attention on me. “Why do you think I slept with him?”
“You’re blushing. You’ve been awful quiet this whole time.” She chewed on her nail, the confident expression slipping into uncertainty.Thank god.I didn’t want to tell them. And I had no idea why.
I had kept two secrets from Jade the entire time I’d known her.
I had many more from my sisters, but the two biggest regrets of my life choked me.
The day Dad had left, he’d accused Mom of stealing money from his wallet.I did it.
The second, Justin had died minutes after I’d kicked him out after a fight. His last text to me had been an apology, him stating he loved me no matter what. But I’d responded for him to get the hell out of my life and to leave me alone.
