Page 80 of Totally Off Limits

“What happened with school anyway?”

His blue eyes grew serious as he set his fork on the plate, fries untouched. “I’m not kidding when I say it was a lot of pressure. It was bad enough that I took an extra year, but when I told them I’d get a master’s and a bachelor’s at the same time, it got them off my back for a while. Then another year…but they were okay, because I was going to be the first kid to get a baccalaureate degree.” Picking up his coffee cup, he let out a long breath and took a big gulp. “But I didn’t want to be a scientist or a teacher. I fuckinghatephysics. But I was good at it in high school and mom and dad glommed onto that—but all it took was one semester of classes for me to know I hated it. So I kept coming up with excuses of why it was taking me longer than they’d expected. But I finally knew the jig was up, you know?”

“Did you think you’d get away with it?”

“Of course not. But I figured by the time I was done and graduated, there wouldn’t be much they could do about it.”

“So what happened?”

“I couldn’t settle on anything. I waffled. Iwantedan English degree but didn’t know what I could do with it—except teach, and I didn’t want to do that. But I took a few classes anyway and loved them all. But then I decided to try physics again just to be sure—and I was. I knew for sure I’d rather die than major in it. And I thought it was all okay anyway—until my degree audit. I was one fucking class short—an important one for my major—so I couldn’t graduate.”

“Willyou?”

“Yeah. Probably after the fall semester…but that means more money. That’s the part mom and dad are the most pissed about. Because I couldn’t make up my mind, I lost my scholarships and don’t really qualify for financial aid.”

“You should try for financial aid anyway. I don’t think mom and dad are as well off as they let on.”

“Oh, no. They are. Dad publishes shit all the time—and he gets kickbacks for something with the city. I have no idea what.”

“I don’t evenwantto know.” Sierra took a sip of her coffee. It wasn’t the greatest, but it was welcome just the same. “Hey…I don’t have an extra bedroom or anything, but you’re welcome to crash on my couch if you need to.”

“Thanks, sis. I really appreciate that—but things have settled down now.”

“Yeah, I know why.”

“Why?”

“Mom’s attention is back on me. She’s trying to force me to get back together with Austin.”

“That’s not gonna go very well if you’re sleeping with the father of your child.”

“Well…that was like a last hurrah.”

“Do you love him? Mickey?”

“No,” she lied. “And there’s no way in hell mom would ever let me be with him.”

“She doesn’t control you, Sierra. You’re a grown woman. You can do what you want.”

If only that were true. “Layne, I didn’t pay enough attention to realize you got a huge ration of shit from mom and dad too—and for that, I’m sorry. And maybe I’m delusional, but I believe you don’t get their full wrath because I’m always there being their number one fuck-up. What would happen if I was out of the picture entirely?”

“Come on.”

“Well, we’re not going to find out. I’m tired of being a constant failure in their eyes.”

Layne picked up another forkful of fries. “Sure you don’t want some?”

“Yuck. Yes, I’m sure.” They sat quietly for a bit while Layne chewed another mouthful. Finally, she said, “I want to apologize for how I treated you in the past.”

“No need.”

“Not true. I’m sorry—and, from this point forward, I’ve got your back, brother.”

“I can get on board with that.” Sticking out his fist in front of his plate, Layne nodded at her.

“What?”

“You’re supposed to bump my fist with yours.”

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