“Nothing.”
“Come on, Carrie. I can hear you muttering from here.”
“If you’re going to bail, at least give me a valid reason.”
He sighs. “If I make up with her now, I won’t need your coaching anymore—and I know how bad that’d hurt you. I don’t want to breakyour heart like that. I couldn’t handle the guilt. I’m doing this foryou, Carrie.”
Oh my God…I know he’s only kidding around, but my heart drops all the same. Wedidstart hanging out because of his sister, yeah. Was that really all it was ever about, though?It’s better this way.
“I had high hopes for you, you know. But that’s okay, Wolinski. You just gave me a good reason to ditch your ass right here.” I shrug. “It’s a shame, since your parents seem to like me and all, but—”
“Babe, wait!” He throws up his hands. “Don’t leave! I thought we had something special—”
“Honeymoon period over already?”
We jump in our seats. Amelia grabs the lasagna dishes and stomps back into the kitchen, and I’m searching for an in, but nothing comes.
“I’ll go help her!”
I jump up, reaching for something—anything—to take along with me.
“Oh, hell no.” He shakes his head slowly. “I knowexactlywhat you’re planning.”
I pout. “What! I was raised right, that’s all!”
“Carrie…”
“Son, come see this!” his dad calls over from the couch.
Just as Don turns to glance over at the TV, I dart into the kitchen, brushing past Ellen on her way out, and finally I’m alone with Amelia.
“Having fun?” I ask.
God. I sound like the biggest fake on the planet.
“Oh, I’m having the best time!” Amelia’s voice is dripping with sarcasm—I get the feeling we’re going to get along just fine.
“So, you started college, huh? How’s it working out for you?”
“Fine.”
Urgh!I gaze at her steadily, one eyebrow raised. She catches my eye.
“Look, I’mthisclose to breaking point,” she warns. “You seem likea nice girl and all, but I’m seriously not in the mood to ‘bond’ with my brother’s girlfriend. Plus,” she adds, “he’s not exactly a long-term kinda guy. It’s better we keep some distance.”
Okay, girl. Gloves off.
I take a deep breath in.
“I’m going to level with you, Amelia. I know what that asshole Cooper did to you, and I get it—I really do. But I still don’t think what you’re doing is okay.”
Her eyes widen. I glance at her hands. She just nearly dropped that dish. Maybe I went a little heavy on her, but hey—she started it.
“What the… He actuallytoldyou about that?”
“Yup. He might not be a long-term kinda guy, but our Donny is definitely a talker.”
I’d been planning on bringing this whole thing up more organically, but it is what it is.
