Page 22 of Collided

Once Derek leaves, Marie turns to me. “You’re such a jerk.”

“Eat that dish ten times a month and you’d say the same.” I get rid of the empty pizza boxes and dirty glasses.

“I definitely won't. I love food.”

The three of us sit in the dining room where the meal is already laid out hot and ready. The rectangular long table is meant to serve twenty people, but it’s always just the three of us—or Emery and me before she passed away.

Kelly, who’s the chef and the housekeeper, brings over the leftovers on Marie’s request.

We all start eating, when Marie says, “You’re a princess.”

I choke on my bite. “Excuse me?”

She waves around her hand. “You live in a mansion, have a staff for almost everything, and also have the attitude.”

“That was good, Marie.” Sebastian snickers and I kick him under the table.

I glare at her. “I’m not a princessandI don’t have an attitude,” I grumble.

Marie pins me with an accusing gaze. “You do. We should name you something. Princess—”

“I swear to God I’ll—”

“Or not,” Marie mutters with a mouthful of pasta from last night.

According to Marie, I get the royal treatment. What she doesn’t know is that money doesn’t fill the gap in my chest from the loss of my sister. We tried everything that we could to help her. Every expensive treatment that we could avail, we did. But money didn’t save her. Since then—her—I hate money. It’s the reason why my parents live in Canada, the reason why my sister couldn’t be saved, and the reason why I feel hollow for every second of my life. I hate that she died and left me alone here.

What the fuck am I supposed to do without her?

We did everything together and now it's just me.

My best friend is gone.

My sister is gone.

It’s been more than a year, but the pain is still alive. There’s not a day I don’t think about her and not mourn her. She lives in my mind and heart. I never want her to die. Even when it comes to holding onto this black hole called grief. It eats me and kills me, but I won’t ever let it go. I don’t want to forget her or get over her death. I want to keep remembering her. I want to hold onto this grief tightly that still binds me to her. The only connection that’s left.

“Hope told me she bandaged your knuckles. They were that bad?” Marie asks worriedly.

Sebastian looks at me and smirks, probably recalling our conversation from yesterday.

“They’re fine.” I shut down the topic. But it’s Marie, she never shuts up.

“Please tell me you didn’t break any bones.”

Sebastian bursts out laughing. I grip my spoon tightly.

“Am I missing something here?” Marie asks Sebastian.

“No, babe. You aren’t missing anything,” he says, trying not to laugh, but fails miserably.

She frowns. “I kinda feel like it. He did break his bones, didn’t he?” She worries too much. I’m happy that she’ll have Hope now and will leave me the fuck alone.

“I’m right fucking here,” I grit out.

“I think we should head to the ER and get him checked out.”

Sebastian nods. “You’re right. While we’re at it we should also pick up condoms on our way.” The wink he sends my way makes me want to strangle him.

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