Page 74 of Last Round

I set down the utensil, place my palms on the table, and take a deep breath. “I wasn’t aware I needed to.” Not that I planned on living here forever. But until a couple of weeks ago, I wasn’t certain I was going to stick around after I saved up enough to leave. Living here rent-free was going to make that easy. Now that Killian and I are together, it wouldn’t hurt to start looking for my own place. There are only so many times I can get away with sneaking around like a teenager, telling my big brother I’m spending the night with Bex.

Well, if you would’ve told him already, like Killian said you should, this wouldn’t be a problem.

I’m not sure why I’ve been hesitating.Oh yeah, I know why. It’s becauseshe’salways around. It’s like since they’ve returned from their mini-vacay, he and Jessica are inseparable. Given how he acts around her and what a bitch she is, I want to tell him alone. I really don’t need her sharing her two cents and making matters worse.

“You don’t need to,” Sean chimes in and glares at Jessica.

Good.Hopefully he’s noticing what a total twat she is.

“Seany, we’ve talked about this.” She laces her fingers with his. Bile burns the back of my throat as he gives her this dopey grin. “You’ve got a big heart, and when it comes to Molly, you’ve got a soft spot.”

“I’m sitting right here.” I roll my eyes. This is how it’s been for the past couple of weeks. Fortunately I’ve spent most of those nights with Killian. I considered going there tonight, but he had plans with Declan and Luke. He offered to cancel, but I didn’t want to interrupt their hangout. Now I wish I would’ve taken him up on that. Hell, even just sitting alone in his apartment would be better than this.

Ignoring me, Jessica continues to prattle on. “You’re such an amazing man for putting your entire life on hold, giving up your lifelong dreams to take care of your little sister—keep her out of the foster system. But she’s not a little girl anymore. She’s twenty-five. It’s time she stood on her own two feet without her big brother keeping her steady. How do you expect her to survive in this world, if you always have to bail her out?”

“Excuse me,” I sneer. “I’ve been living on my own, in New York city of all places, since I was eighteen. Sean hasn’t had to bail me out of a damn thing.”

“Really, Molly? You went to a college paid for by your brother—”

“Killian actually,” Sean corrects, unhelpfully. That’s her point. I didn’t have to work three jobs or take out giant loans with killer interest fees.

“It might have been his checkbook, but you earned that money by taking care of him. Covering her education was the least he could do for all the crap he’s put you through over the years…” Jessica shakes her head and pins me with her icy stare. “Where was I? Oh yeah, that’s right. Your college was paid for, including your room and board, meaning you had a free ride. Then you get an internship and eventually hired at a top public relations firm—again all because of your brother’s connections. You had everything handed to you on a shiny platinum platter. But then what? After someone questioned your ability to succeed in that atmosphere, you gave it all up and came home crying to your big brother.”

I eye said brother, wondering just how much he’s told her. And how much of this is just the truth he never wanted to say to my face.

“Who, once again, gave you shelter, a job, everything you need. So no, Molly, you’ve never had to stand on your own two feet. You’ve been sitting on Sean’s shoulders and it’s time you learn to walk on your own. Pretty soon yourweight…” She looks me up and down, giving a catty double meaning to the term. “…is going to crush him.”

Crap,while she’s an utter bitch, is she also right? I might have earned the grades and put in the work. But when you look at her poisoned, painted picture, I haven’t done jack shit on my own.

“Jessica,” Sean says sternly. “That is over the line.”

“No, Sean,” I interrupt. “She’s right.”

“She is?” Sean looks confused. If I didn’t hate his fiancée so much, I’d almost feel bad that he’s caught in the middle of this.

“Everything she said was one-hundred-percent factual.” For the most part. When I was questioned about my ability to be a team player and if a career in public relations was right for me, it wasn’t as simple as she’s making it sound. Still, the rest of it is spot on. “As an adult, I’ve had it easy.”

“Good,” Jessica says triumphantly. “Soon, Sean and I are going to be married. This will be our home, where we raise our family. I’d prefer not to have our child’s aunt freeloading in what should be the nursery.” Jessica makes a show of rubbing her stomach.

“You’re pregnant?” Sean and I ask in unison.

Jessica looks up at Sean with giant doe eyes. “Not yet. But we shouldn’t waste time. I’d like to have at least two or three before I’m forty.” She’s thirty-six. If they are unfortunate enough to breed, I doubt she’ll have more than one after she sees what it does to her perfect figure.

I scoot my chair back and stand from the table. “Where are you going?” Sean asks.

“To pack.” She wants me gone and I don’t want to stick around to witness this utter shitshow for a second longer.

“What? Why?” Sean stands as well.

“Didn’t we just have a conversation about me being a freeloading piece of shit who needs to stand on her own two feet? So I say why wait?” I shrug.

“Hold on, Molly, that isn’t what she meant.” Sean looks to Jessica pleadingly, as if she actually has a soul.

“Didn’t you?” I ask Jessica, who now has a giant shit-eating grin plastered on her plastic face. She doesn’t bother to correct him. “See? I understood her perfectly. That college education you invested in is finally paying off.” I tap my skull.

“Jessica, tell her you didn’t mean for her to move outnow,” Sean booms.

“I think anger is a great motivator. If having a meltdown at dinner like a child is getting her ass in gear, I don’t think we should stop her. Clearly this is why she didn’t cut it at the firm. She has absolutely no ability to take criticism. She’s not going to make it in this world if she can’t hear a bit of feedback now and then.”

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