“That’s only partially true. I went to classandto the parties. I was able to multitask, unlike you who can’t function unless you’ve got a to-do list.”
“Organization is nothing to be ashamed of.” She scans the basement. Everything I had in my measly apartment in Chicago is now down here. “You should try it for once.”
“I sure will. Now, if you’d be so kind as to fuck off, I’d like to finish getting dressed.” A good idea since I’m sitting bare-assed naked wearing only my sweatshirt. “Mom’s awaitin’.”
“Fine. Just….” She pauses.
“What?”
“Please don’t cuss in front of William. He’s doesn’t like that kind of language.”
Ha!I want to laugh because that’s a bunch of shit. Billy has the dirtiest mouth I’ve ever heard. He must have said the words pussy, cunt, and fuck at least thirty times last night. I’ve never been one for the dirty talk during sex, but Billy made it fun.
“Sure. Whatever.” I shrug. My sister begins her ascent back to her William as I search the floor for my black leggings. Spying them beneath some of my dirty socks and underwear, I grab them and sniff. “Not bad.” Sliding one foot into a leg, then the other, I pull them up, hesitating when I feel wetness on one of the legs. “Nope. Can’t do it.” Taking them off, I toss them back where they started and search for my gray leggings. “Aha.” Those are folded neatly on top of a basket of clothing. Sliding those on, I pull them up as high as they’ll go and move back into the bathroom in an attempt to harness the power that is my curly red hair. Deciding on braids again, I make quick work doing my left side, then my right.
I dab on some mascara and pink lip gloss and stare at myself. “Nope.” I wipe off the gloss. “That makes it look like I give a shit.” And I don’t. Not one bit.
Chapter Three
“William.”My mom is looking at only him. “Welcome to our Christmas Eve breakfast where we can all talk about our lives, reconnect with one another, discuss fond memories from the past year, and dream of what’s to come in the new year, without worrying about gifts.”
See? I told you.
My mom is standing at the head of the table wearing a new apron. The woman has so many, I can’t believe I noticed this one is new. You know how some people like to buy shoes? Well, my mom’s addiction is aprons. Today’s is especially Mom. It’s pale pink with a two-inch ruffle that goes all around the entire thing and two pockets in the front to hold what? Recipe cards? A wooden spoon? From the looks of it, she didn’t wear it while she was cooking. No, this is a show apron, and we all know we don’t cook in a show apron. Ever.
Anyway, she said it. The annual speech. I’m so happy when it was over, I blow out a breath of air known as a sigh of relief.
My sister must have caught it because when I look across the table and to my left, she’s glaring at me.
“What?” I mouth but don’t say out loud.
“Grow up,” she mouths back.
“Fuck you,” I mouth right back at her.
I wait for her comeback, but nothing comes.
Pussy.
I guess I was wrong. She didn’t repeat the little speech verbatim; she added, “And since this is your first with us, William, why don’t you start by telling us a little about yourself?”
I haven’t looked at William since we sat down. Not easy since he’s sitting directly across from me, but I’ve done it. I feel it’s best to pretend last night didn’t happen.
Ha! Tell that to my lady-land.Sheremembers.
Anyhoo, I’m determined not to make eye contact with the guy, and I’m pretty sure he was doing the same, but now I’m not so sure, because whenever I rotate my head in his direction, his eyes are on me. I guess I’ll have to look right back at him because Mom asked him a direct question, which means we all have to look at him and wait for his answer. His eyes flick from Gisele’s to my Mom’s then Dad’s then to mine. I guess the word “gaze” sounds better than “stare,” but I’m not gazing; I’m glaring. Yeah, that word works better.
“Well….” He clears his throat as he fiddles with his stupid tie.
I lean in and squint. Are those tiny Rudolph’s all over his tie? No way.
“As you probably know, I work with Gisele.”
“He works in our patent, intellectual property, and copyright law department,” Gisele adds.
I put my hand over my mouth and cough the word “Boring.” Am I being childish? Absolutely. Do I care? Fuck no.
Gisele is glaring at me. No worries, I’m used to it. It’s her resting bitch face.
