Page 76 of Riverside Reverie

“But do you make yourself happy, Brin?” I asked sadly.

My sister blinked as if she was forcing my question away. “You bored him,” she continued with a sneer, stepping into my room. “I don’t. And you can’t stand that someone prefers me to you—finally.”

“I really do hope you find the happiness you so desperately seek, and I hope that one day, you won’t tear others down in your quest to find it.” I told her.

Brinley scoffed, rolling her eyes again. “Whatever.” When she finally stomped out of my room, I closed the door behind her, leaning against it. My heart still felt battered and bruised, more so from her than anything with Scott.

The interaction left me feeling even more like my decision was the right one.

Dinner only solidified things for me. When Mom called us down, Dad was finally home from the hospital. Brinley was the last to join us. She gave me a smug look as she pulled out her chair.

Mom didn’t bring up the news I’d dropped on her earlier, and neither did Brinley. It was like neither one of them wanted to fill Dad in on the Scott thing. Halfway through dinner, I couldn’t take the silence anymore.

“Dad, are you able to come with me to the dealership this week? I need to get a car.” Even before I’d decided to move to Sudbury, I knew I’d have to go car shopping. Now that I had finished college, I’d need a reliable mode of transportation to get to whatever job I landed.

“Sorry, sweetie. I’m pretty busy the next few weeks with surgeries and clinicals. Could your mother take you?”

I’d read somewhere that car salesmen always tried to swindle women. My mom didn’t know much about vehicles, and neither did I. She was also more gullible than my father, and didn’t really care about the cost of things the way he did.

“I could take you,” Mom smiled at me across the table, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Yeah, I guess that’s fine.” I’d have to do my research beforehand and make sure I knew what I was going in for and what I was willing to pay.

Brinley rolled her eyes, pushing her food around on her plate and barely eating any of the chicken piccata Maria had prepared in advance for us. It was one of her best dishes, but the tension coating the room made it taste dull.

“I don’t know if Mom mentioned it yet, but I’ll be moving out at the end of the month,” I informed my dad. Brinley’s brows furrowed and she shot me a dirty look.

“Oh, did you get a job?” Dad asked, his red brow arching.

“Not exactly, but there are a few opportunities for me up north. I’ll be moving in with Jasmine.”

“You shouldn’t move without a job secured.” Dad shook his head, like he was going to tell me no.

“I’m an adult, if I want to move I can. With or without a job. It’s not like I’m asking you to foot any of my bills.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Brinley demanded, crossing her arms and scowling at me.

Even though it wasn’t meant as a dig at my sister, Brinley took it that way because she expected my father to foot all of her bills. She didn’t work, outside of her social media influencing. Our father still paid her phone bill, her car payment, and anything else she needed or wanted.

Sometimes, Dad would tell Brinley to get a real job, but the fight that’d follow his suggestion was never worth it. Brinley would accuse him of not supporting her the way he supported me—because Dad had covered the things bursaries and scholarships hadn’t for my higher education.

“It means I’m not expecting our parents to cover my expenses, Brin. I can manage them myself.”

“Wow,” Brinley said, taking my response as a personal insult to her.

“Respectfully, this isn’t about you or your feelings.” I deadpanned, looking straight at her.

“Now, Lux. That was a little harsh,” Mom interjected. She frowned at me, like I was being unnecessarily cruel or causing unmerited drama.

“I don’t see how it was. I’m stating facts. If that hurts her feelings, that’s on her, not me. I’m not going to apologize for living my life anymore.” I felt a tangible sense of relief once the words spilled from my lips.

“Girls, what’s going on?” Dad asked, his brow furrowed as he took in the tension. Brinley was shooting daggers at me with her eyes, and Mom was sending me a beseeching look, silently begging me not to involve him further.

The knots in my stomach twisted with anxiety and disappointment. I dropped my eyes to my plate, feeling utterly disparaged. I don’t know what I’d hoped to happen after the conversation I had with my mom earlier, but to see that she was still desperately trying to sweep things under the rug stung.

“A lot is going on, Dad, but I’ll let Brinley or Mom fill you in. I’ve lost my appetite. Can I be excused?”

“No, you can’t. Not until you girls tell me what’s happening here.” Dad’s voice was full of authority, leaving no room for argument.

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