Page 53 of Stay

Annoyance flashes across her face and even though I know Owen didn’t mean anything negative with his question, I want to laugh because he managed to find a sore spot. She can’t stand that she’s twenty-nine and single. Absolutely cannot stand it.

“Yes, I’m the oldest, but not by much.”

“She’s six and a half years older than me,” I answer before he can ask.

“That’s a lot!” Owen says.

Olivia scowls at him, and I shoot her a look to knock it off.

“And Weston is older than you too, Felicity?” he asks.

“Yes, Weston is between me and Olivia.”

“I wish I could be the oldest. I bet you loved it,” he says to Olivia sweetly.

And anyone else would melt—I certainly do when he says it. But Olivia stands up straight and we hear her say, “It’s not that great,” before she walks away.

CHAPTER TWENTY

A LITTLE BIT OF TRUTH

SUTTON

Felicity’s sister is a piece of work.

Earlier in the suite, Olivia Shaw reminded me we’d been in court together, and once she said a little more about the case, I remembered. She was a new lawyer and not prepared enough. I’d felt bad for her. She hadn’t presented the facts well, and theway she bristled over the verdict, trying to convince me later that the jury hadn’t given her a chance, made me wonder if she had what it took to stick it out. Perhaps that doggedness and the curt demeanor have served her well in court with time.

But seeing her carry that over into life outside of work and hearing the way she talks to her sister and my son makes me think my first impression was right.

She’s so different from Felicity and the rest of the family, I have a hard time believing they’re related.

I get into the car and turn to Felicity. She looks stunned and a bit distressed. In the light of the parking garage, I can see how glassy her eyes are.

“Felicity?”

She shakes her head and wipes her eyes. “I’m fine. She just knows how to get to me. She’s always been…” She shakes her head again.

“Jealous?” I start up the car and since we were in special parking and lingered afterward, it’s not crowded the way it usually is.

“No,” she says. “She doesn’t have anything to be jealous about with me. You saw her. She’s gorgeous, has a great career, and enough confidence to run the country.” She laughs and wipes her face again.

“She doesn’t have anything on you,” I say, my voice firm.

I look at her and she’s staring at me in surprise.

“She doesn’t,” I repeat emphatically. “You’re so much more—” I clench the steering wheel. “You’regorgeous and smart, and kind, and your personality alone makes you a thousand times more appealing. I’m sorry if that’s rude, but…I didn’t like the way she talked to you. She haseveryreason to be jealous of you, but I know you’d never wish for that. You’re not the type of person who’s in competition with every woman you meet or the women in my family wouldn’t already love you so much.”

She’s quiet for a moment and just when I think I may have gone too far, she says, “Thank you. I’ve never been able to pinpoint what it is about me that my sister doesn’t like, but what you said about competition…that’s exactly it. She’s been competitive with me our whole lives and I’m so not that way, I haven’t even known how to define it. It’s part of why I don’t want to be a lawyer. I’m always seeking peace and trying to keep everyone calm. I hate to ruffle feathers or make people unhappy, and she thrives on being on an opposing side, looking for every opportunity to prove her point. And not that there’s anything wrong with that, she just…she’s never been able to get me to fight back the way she wants, and I think she hates that. She resents me for it.”

“I’m sorry it’s a tumultuous relationship. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I can’t imagine.”

“I envy the ease you have with your siblings,” she says. “I haven’t picked up on any of that edge with you and…any of them.”

“It’s not there,” I say. “I would say we’ve had to stick together more because our parents died, but I was fifteen when that happened, and our bond was already strong. I think that just solidified what was already there, you know?”

“I wish your parents could have seen how spectacular all of you turned out,” she says softly.

“That’s…a really sweet thing to say.” My voice sounds raw and I clear my throat, focusing on the highway for a moment.

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