She eyed me. If looks could kill, it’d definitely maim me.
“I’m taking a vow of celibacy. Like you.”
“I’m not celibate.”
“I don’t see you sneaking off for anyafternoon delightswhile me and Mum are around to look after Rose, do I? Even though you could’ve.” She stretched out like a cat. “You’ve pretty much opted for a celibate life.”
“I haven’t. I’ve spent the last six months in a relationship!”
“Hmmm. With an amazing man, who adores you and your daughter, doesn’t mind that you’re work-obsessed and who likes Chinese food a little too much. One who even tolerated you thinking thatBuffy the Vampire Slayerwas comfort food and watched it with you.”
“Exactly.”
She shook her head. “But you’ve given him the brush off.”
I wanted to say that I hadn’t, but that would be a lie.
“We’re still together.” I was telling myself more than her, although I had photos that told me we were something more.
“Because he’s got the patience of a saint. Seriously, what’s the issue?” She rolled onto her stomach. “I still don’t get why he stopped being around all of the time. And neither does Rose. Did he do something you haven’t told me about? I have the money to hire a very good hitman.”
“Thanks, but no. He didn’t do anything.” I groaned. “I felt we’d moved too quick and I was worried that we’d end up rushing into something we weren’t ready for, so when it ended, Rose and I would be heartbroken.”
“I get that.”
I sat up. “What?”
“I get why you’d think that. The sperm donor was such a twat, it’s predictable that you’d associate all men with being like that. And Dad was hardly man of the year.”
“Shit. I thought you were about to go postal on me.”
“Oh, I still think you’re an idiot. And arrogant.”
“What?” It wasn’t the first time Olivia had called me an idiot. But arrogant was a new one.
“Thinking you know him better than he knows himself. Making a call on his behalf without talking it through. I’m no relationship expert…”
“No, you’re really not.”
“Thanks for that. But, back to my point, if you’d talked about it, you might’ve realised that the speed you were going was the right one for both of you, and you both wanted to get off at the same destination.” She started to giggle.
“What’s funny?”
She chuckled again. “Get off. You know,get off…”
“You’ve got the maturity of a thirteen-year-old boy sometimes.” I shook my head, my attention taken by Rose who was playing some game that involved running around with a child she’d met today.
I barely noticed my sister’s arm stretch out and swipe my phone from next to me.
“Olivia!” When did murdering your sister become illegal?
She didn’t say anything, just unlocked it and scrolled through my messages. Her pause told me she’d found the pictures.
“This is what you’ve been staring at?”
“I’m not sure what you’re looking at, so I don’t know.” I decided to be obtuse.
“Sod off, Georgia. You know damn well what I'm looking at.”
