Page 23 of Daddies' Little Troublemaker

“How did you even know I’m here?”

“Where else would you go?” Mom asks.

Fair enough. I love that she never expected me to come home to her.

“Mark isn’t around?” Mom says, bustling right in.

“No, he has a job in Japan.”

“Figures,” she mutters.

Gutsy of her, talking shit about him in his own house.

Chloe steps inside after Mom. I leave the door open and remain next to it. Surely, they can’t be planning on staying for long.

Mom looks around at the living room. The furniture is comfortable, masculine. There isn’t a throw pillow in sight, although there is a soft blanket folded on the arm of the couch. The paintings on the walls were done by Japanese artists, pieces that Dad picked up on his work trips. Their subtle hues remind me of my dad—understated but rich in personality.

Mom sniffs, as if thinking the place isn’t up to her standards.

“So…to what do I owe the pleasure of your unexpected company?” I say, trying to ask as nicely as possible why the fuck they’re intruding on my peace.

“We wanted to tell you in person,” Chloe says.

I close my eyes, praying for patience. “Tell me what?”

“Chloe and Troy are engaged!” Mom squeals.

I shouldn’t care. I don’t care. I stopped caring when I found out they were betraying me.

And yet the news is a gut-punch. Was she already wearing an engagement ring, while I was still wearing mine?

At least I know hers won’t be my ring, the one he gave me, because I sold it.

I shove all the feelings down. Getting emotional right now won’t accomplish anything. Tears prick my eyes, but I turn to look out the window and blink them away. I can’t let them see me upset. Mom will turn it around on me “making everything about myself” and “selfishly trying to change the narrative.”

Nobody speaks, and I realize they’re waiting for me to say something.

“Congratulations,” I manage.

“Oh, thank you,” Chloe gushes. “You’re my sister, Evelyn, and I wanted to tell you before anyone else—other than Mom and Dad, of course. Look, look at the beautiful ring he gave me.”

Unable to hold back the words, I say, “What, did he get a buy one, get one free deal on engagement rings?”

“Evelyn,” Mom says sharply. “That isn’t fair.”

There’s a lot about this that isn’t fair, but nobody will see it that way. As soon as I introduced him, Mom always catered to Troy. And Chloe was her favorite, too. This whole new relationship is probably what she views as “right” in the world, like the universe is finally operating as it should, with her favorite daughter and her favorite guy together.

And me, shunted back to my dad’s house in the shadows where I belong. I just want her to love me, too. At twenty-six, I still can’t get over it.

“You owe Chloe an apology.” Mom picks a metal box up off the coffee table, opens it to find the television remote control. “She and Troy are very much in love, and you’re ruining this special moment.”

Chloe is looking at me with tear-filled eyes. “Please be happy for me, Evelyn?”

Barf. “Of course. Super happy for you. I’m sorry if I led you to think anything different.”

“That’s not a true apology,” Mom says in a chastising tone.

“I’m sorry, Chloe,” I say, feeling like I’m ten again.

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