I frown. “Yep. Just me.”
Padded footsteps reach my ears before my gorgeous little sister steps into the long hallway. Her long brown hair is wrapped in a silk scarf, her face bare of makeup. She wears her Georgetown University sweatshirt and gray joggers. Obviously, she’s been home a while.
“I thought you were going out?” I hang my jacket in the hall closet, placing my beanie and purse on the shelf.
“Change of plans. My bestie’s sick, so I turned my evening into a pampering sesh.” She holds out her fingers.
“Nice color.” The red nail polish looks gorgeous against her light brown complexion. My skin tone is a couple of shades darker, so I tend to stick to the light mauve color family.
“Thanks.” She blows against her nails. “How was the game? Did they win?”
“They did. It was fun. Steff is super sweet.”
“Hmm.” Fran purses her lips. “Washeplaying?”
My neck heats, but it’s not like I did anything wrong. I clear my throat. “He got injured, so he didn’t play the whole time.”
“Injured?” A look I can’t decipher fills her face.
“Why?” I fold my arms. “Do you want to cheer that he’s hurt?” Surely she doesn’t care, and neither will Jackie. Right?
“I mean, it depends on how hurt he is.”
I huff out a breath and walk over to the couch. The curtains are drawn closed. I can’t wait until the morning when we flip them open, and the glorious sunlight pours into the living room, giving life to my plant babies. I tuck a leg under my rear and sit.
“I don’t know. He either got a concussion or hurt his neck. The hit was pretty brutal.” I shudder just thinking about it.
Fran grimaces. “Guess I won’t celebrate, but I bet Jackie will.”
“Really?” I stare at my sister. “Do you think that’s true?” I know there’s no love lost, but surely she’s not still carrying a grudge. She’s married after all.
“Do younotremember how broken up she was when she discovered he cheated?”
“Of course I do, but that was ten years ago. They were practically babies. Besides, she’s married to the love of her life now.”
Fran snorts. “Whatever. Twenty-three is not a child’s age. He was a grown man when he decided to step out on her.”
Maybe, but time makes us wiser. Feeling the need to defend my big sister’s level of maturity, I continue. “Jackie’s happy with Isaac. Surely that man is no longer a concern.” I can’t tell why the thought niggles the back of my mind, but it does.
“I’m sure she’d happily snack on popcorn and watch his demise if he ever lost favor in the hockey community.” Fran grins. “There arenogood feelings in her heart toward that man. Dating seriously for six months will do that to a person.”
I lean back against the couch cushion, trying to think of a way to change this conversation.
“You tired?” Fran asks softly.
“Drained.”
“Then I’ll let you wind down. What are you reading?”
“Hearts in Circulationby Sarah Monzon.” I grab the paperback from the end table and show it to her.
“Another romance?”
“Is there any other thing to read?” My brows raise.
Fran smiles. “I’ll leave you to it, then.”
As much as I love my sister, the silence that follows is equally wonderful. I remove my bookmark and turn back to Levi and Hayley. I love a good brooding hero in fiction. Not something I want in real life, but the hero type is my romance-reading catnip.
