Page 75 of Cabin Fever

"No, Olivia. It's not . . ." Bea's eyes grew large, distant, and for a moment, I thought a tear might escape. "Actually, you're right. I was afraid to tell you that Derrick started to date Cousin Kiki."

The images of Derrick between Kiki's legs in the bathroom before the wedding was seared into my brain. I don't think bleach could kill that picture of her overly tanned legs wrapped around him as she sat on the counter.

Kiki was one of those people who was never happy with what she had, and she had more than most.

"That doesn't surprise me. And he'd been seeing her for a while. Why do you think I ran?"

Bea covered her cheeks with her hands in surprise. "What? I just thought my words finally sunk in and you made a mad dash. I had no idea you knew. How did you find out?"

"The toilet was broken in the room I was using to get ready for the wedding, so I thought I would sneak in the men's bathroom. Unfortunately, it was occupied by Derrick and Kiki. And they weren't using the facilities properly." Irritation twisted the corner of my mouth.

Bea pulled me in for a hug, her caring embrace relieving a little bit of the weight I'd been carrying around over the last several weeks.

"That fuckhead! I knew he was garbage when he first weaseled his way into our group of friends." She pulled back and ran her hand over my cheek. "Kiki may be our cousin, but she's dead to me. She's always been jealous of us. Her parents are more than wealthy, yet, because Dad had more money than her family, she wanted it. God, I hate her. In a way, I'm glad they ended up together, they deserve each other."

I nodded and wondered why this was bothering me more than it should. Then I remembered what their dirty talk was about. It made me nauseous that speaking ill of my family turned them on.

"Bea, they said some terrible things."

She tilted her head. "I thought they were having sex when you walked in on them?"

"They were. The things they said seemed to excite them though if you know what I mean . . ."

I let out a laugh at her overly exaggerated frown. "Oh, Ollie, I don't want to know what kinky shit they said to get off."

"Oh, but I think you do."

Bea stepped back, covering her ears with her hands as she's done since we were little.

"I'm not listening. La, la, la . . ."

"It's about taking over Love Foods," I said louder than usual to get her attention.

It worked. She lowered her hands and with worried eyes, stared at me.

"Derrick said that by marrying me he would become the perfect son-in-law. Find out what he could about Konrad and all the rest of our brothers. Then, he would plant seeds in Dad's head about how bad they would run the company after he retired."

"They got off on this?"

I nodded. "Yes, and Kiki added that she would introduce Konrad to one of her drug dealer friends. Whip up some scandal to make it appear like he was doing drugs. You know how Father detests the thought of drugs. He barely tolerates drinking."

"What about me? Did Derrick mention finding anything on me?"

"No. But I don't think he sees you as a threat. You know Dad, he'd rather put the company in the hands of a deadbeat, as long as it was a man."

There was pain in her eyes as she nodded. I knew it hurt her to work so hard for the company all while knowing that Father couldn't see past her being a woman. As if it's the middle-ages and only a male heir would do.

Her phone buzzed from her pocket. Removing it and lifting the phone, she said, "The car is here. It's time for me to head to the airport."

She closed her suitcase, and I had to sit on it while she locked it in place. I was surprised she showed up here with only one bag. She rarely brings less than three. Maybe she hadn't meant to stay a full week.

We hugged, and I clung to her, wanting my sister never to leave. But I had to let go and walked with her down to the lobby. Standing outside the black sedan she hired to take her the two hours to the airport, I gave her another hug.

"Be careful, Ollie. Carter is nice, but he's not perfect. Okay?"

I nodded, and she stared at me for a moment before slipping inside the backseat of the car. The driver shut the door and in what felt like an instant, the car pulled away. I stood as flurries floated past my eyes and felt torn.

My time here with Carter had been a learning experience, and it felt wonderful to have someone who liked me for who I was, not what he thought I could give him. But, as much as I had grown, I was still Bea's sister. I was still part of the Love family and missed them. Despite my father being a sexist jerk, he was still my dad, and I loved him, too.

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