Page 38 of The Snowball Effect

Regan didn’t laugh, though, nor did she change her tune.

She stared at Emma, her dark eyes so… cold. Startlingly chilly.

“All I do with you is try. All I haveeverdone with you – for some stupid reason – is try. Especially since you moved in.And yeah, sometimes I mess up, or things don’t go according to plan–”

“Sometimes?” She cut in because – really?Sometimes?Was Regan kidding her?

This time, Regan ignored her. She shook her head. “But you never try with me. You never give me the benefit of the doubt or try to see anything from my side. You decided who I was the day we met – over anaccident– and that was it.”

Regan studied Emma as if reading her for the first time, a frown etching into her face. “So, congratulations, Emma; you finally get exactly what you’ve wanted since you moved in. I’ll stop texting you, stop trying to hang out with you. You wanted a roommate you barely have to speak to, and you finally got her. Because I am so done trying.”

six

Regan lightly drummedher fingers against the polished wood arm of the chair she sat in as she looked around Opal’s.

Unsurprisingly, her sister’s bridal boutique was ritzy as hell; Regan had been a little nervous to sit on the chair she’d been directed toward when she’d arrived half an hour ago, wondering if it was some sort of antique that was designed for her to look but not touch.

As she heard her sister’s voice talking animatedly to the same woman the had brought Regan into the showing room – Anita, a very bubbly shop assistant – she braced herself.

Reganalwaysbraced herself when preparing to spend time with her family. But today, after her fallout with Emma last night, she was extra antsy.

There was nothing like your roommate telling you that you were a directionless loser, only to spend the following morning with your sister, who believed the same thing. Regan was finding that she didn’t have the same fire she normally summoned for her infrequent meetings with her family.

Audrey walked back into the ornate fitting room, cutting herself off mid-sentence when she laid eyes on Regan. “Regan.What are you doing here?” She asked, in her soft-spoken yet steely voice.

Regan stared back, wondering which one of them had lost their damn mind. “Um… it’s the day we’re getting fitted for our dresses? You told me to be here? It’s on the calendar? You literally told me I better be here on time, or I was going to fuck up your entire wedding?”

Audrey opened her mouth to respond, before she seemed to remember they had company, and she turned to Anita. “Thanks so much for bringing me back; the rest of the party should be here any minute. Would you mind waiting for them?”

Her sister managed to have perfect manners and the nicest tone for everyone, it seemed, except for her. Typically, Regan would have probably commented on it. At the very least, rolled her eyes.

As it was, she simply breathed out a sigh, letting herself slump back against the chair, feeling so… lackluster. It was the only word that came to mind to describe this utter lack of energy or enjoyment in the little things right now.

Audrey turned back to face her, pursing her lips. “I knowwhyyou’re here.” She brought up her hand, rubbing her fingers over her temples, as if the very sight of Regan already stressed her out.

Normally, Regan would have taken some small satisfaction in that, given that she, too, was stressed out by Audrey. As it was, with Emma’s words echoing through her mind, it just made her feel… badly.

Orworse, Regan supposed, given that she felt like shit already.

“But it’s only nine-thirty, and the appointment is at ten. I told you that you didn’t even have to be here until nine forty-five.”

Regan shrugged. “And I figured I’d get here a little early. I assumed you’d be happy about it.”

Mostly, Regan hadneededto get out of the apartment. She’d left before seven, making sure to slip out before she’d see Emma getting ready for work. She’d first gone to Topped Off and baked another batch of the new recipe she’d tried out for cupcakes last night. The ones she’d wanted to share with Emma. Then she’d left as the morning shift changed over, not feeling up to conversation.

Audrey stared at Regan as though she were a little green alien, waving at her with a three-fingered hand. “You’ve never been this early to anything in your entire life.”

Regan set her jaw, hearing Emma’s words echo in her ears as she’d indirectly called Regan unorganized and irresponsible. “I’ve never been late to anything you’ve ever invited me to, either,” she pointed out in her own defense.

Which was the truth.

Granted, Audrey had never invited her to anything, so there was also that. But Regan was so – sosickof being judged without even being given a real chance.

Her sister chewed on the inside of her lip as she stared at Regan as if she were a stranger and not someone who’d lived in the bedroom down the hall from hers for nearly eighteen years.

“Fine,” Audrey finally settled on, shaking her head. “I’m not going to get into a ridiculous debate about this, today of all days.”

“Great,” Regan muttered, the word barely louder than a breath as she leaned back and stared up at the ceiling. “When is everyone else supposed to get here?”

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