Page 59 of The Winslow Brothers

“Yes, I can see that. But why are you doing it inmyapartment?”

She shrugs again. “What’s that supposed to mean? I’ve lived here for years.”

“No. Youusedto live here, and then you married a guy named John—not sure if you remember him—and you moved out.”

“Trust me, I know. But living with a boy is weird sometimes. Like, he’s got a penis, you know?”

I snort. “Seeing as you’re a straight woman, I kind of thought that was a selling point.”

It sure as hell sold my soul to the one-night-stand devil last night.

“Yeah. I don’t know how to explain it.”

She goes back to reading and eating cereal like our conversation is done, and I’m so flabbergasted—and likely volatile thanks to having been snuck out on by Sir Sex-a-Lot—I smack her spoon right out of her hand, and it goes clanking to the floor.

“Hey!” she shrieks. “What did you do that for?”

“Where does John even think you are? Does he know you’re delusional?”

Belle rolls her eyes. “He thinks I’m running.”

“Has he even met you?”

My sister Belle may be skinny, but in her case, it’s entirely genetic. I swear she’s allergic to exercise.

“I told him I was on a new kick. It’s no big deal, geez.”

I let out an annoyed groan and head straight for the coffeepot. I don’t have the energy to get into all the things wrong with this. I mean, I know she and John have their own relationship and shit, but does she really think lying to him right out of the gate is a good idea?

Dr. Winters would have a field day with this.

Actually, she’d probably tell you to stay in your own lane and ask yourself why you’re so botheredthismorning, of all mornings.

Almost as if she can read my mind, Belle fires back with twin-style mirror attitude. “What’s your deal this morning anyway? You seem super crabby.”

I stick out my tongue as I sit down at the table across from her with my coffee cup and sigh.

Ireallydon’t want to get into all the details of this whole thing just yet. Not only is the sting of rejection a little too fresh, but there’s also a whole backstory with my therapist and her dating assignment that will undoubtedly cause some sort of a shit fit from my sister when she finds out I’ve been hiding my therapy appointments from her.

Thankfully, my house phone rings in a timely distraction, sending Belle into a whole other tirade. This one, however, is one I’m prepared to handle.

“What…what is that?”

I shake my head and shrug innocently as the phone continues to ring.

“Did you hook that thing back up?” Belle interrogates, jumping up from her seat.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I deny, just as my old-school answering machine picks up and starts to play my outgoing message.

“Hi, you’ve reached Sophie. I’m not here right now, or I am and I’m busy, but feel free to leave me a message and I’ll get back to you.” BEEEP.

“Oh my God, you dirty skank! I’m barely out of here, and you’ve already got that fucking thing hooked back up!” Belle yells.

I widen my eyes innocently as our sister Katelynn comes over the speaker.“Hey, hooker. Call me back. I’d call your cell, but my little shits are already tearing my house apart as we speak, so I don’t have the time. Byeeee.”

“Sophie!” Belle snips again. “I want an explanation.”

I shake my head with a laugh. “You don’t live here anymore, Belly. That means I can have whatever outdated technology I want, and you can’t stop me.”

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