Page 26 of Stalker's Valentine

“What?”

“First you were all happy, then you turned pale as a ghost.”

“No, I didn’t!” I pressed the back of my hand against my cheek. “And nothing is going on.”

“You sure?” I playfully rolled my eyes.

“How are you?” I asked. “Have you heard from Lord Voldemort?” I refused to use Jack’s name. Coral shook her head and looked away, but not before I noticed the flash of pain behind her dark eyes. Raven shot me a look that could kill, and I didn’t miss the disappointment in Olive’s gaze either.

“What?” I asked. It was obvious something happened. “What did I say?”

“Nothing. I’m going to use the bathroom.” My older sister rose and left.

“Good job, dummy,” Raven muttered.

“What?”

“Maybe if you weren’t holed up at home all the time and hung out with us, you’d know that Jack…” Olive shot a look at Raven that made her shut up. A heavy unnerving silence hung between us.

“That Jack, what?” I asked, but when none of them chimed in, I got annoyed. “Come on! They were together for ten years! We all know this is a bump in the road and they’ll get back together before you know it.”

“He’s seeing someone,” Olive chimed in. And just like that, I felt like the world’s crappiest sister. If the news of Jack seeing someone new, a guy who had been like a brother to me, felt like a slap in the face to me, I could only imagine how Coral felt.

“What?” I whispered.

“She found out last night.” Raven shrugged. “It’s not your fault. We should have texted you, but it was late, and we figured we could share today but––“

“I put my foot in my mouth.” I rubbed the bridge of my nose.

“You didn’t know.” Olive’s hand covered mine. “I’m sorry for being bitchy. It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s but his. I just can’t believe he’s seeing someone already.”

“And he had the balls to take her to the brewery,” Raven added.

“No!” I gasped. I shut my eyes for a moment.Poor Coral!

“I get that we live in a small town and places to go on dates are limited, but come on!” Raven huffed. “You should have seen her! It was like when she told us they’d broken up all over again. Except this time, we didn’t drink our weight in tequila.”

“Shit. I’ll be right back.” I stood and headed to the bathroom. When I pushed the door open, she was at the sink washing her hands.

“They told you,” she said and then muttered, “Little sisters have big mouths.”

“Are you okay?” I ignored her comment and walked towards her.

“I’m fine.” Her lips were pressed in a thin line.

“I’m sorry. I should have been there and––”

“And nothing.” Her shoulders relaxed. “This was going to happen eventually.” She shrugged. “Life goes on,” she whispered and her lips wobbled.God, I am the worst!“Life goes on, and it’s not your responsibility to follow me around. Honestly, I think you have the right idea.”

“What do you mean?”

“Picking up some granny hobbies and holing yourself away from the world sounds better than going out and…”

“Bumping into people?” I asked when her voice drifted off to nothing. I didn’t miss the way her eyes started to get glassy. I knew if I hugged her, she would break down and cry. Knowing Coral, that was the last thing she wanted to do. “How about we hang out at your place and spend the day junking out?”

“We just had brunch.” Coral chuckled and sniffled.

“Who cares?” I smiled because I knew reminding her of Mom’s favorite Trejo family saying would cheer her up. “Calories don’t count on the weekend, right?”

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