Page 26 of Lush

“What’s stopping you? The door is right there.” Serena pointed at it. “It’s always been about you, hasn’t it? You’re back and everything has to come to a halt since you’ve graced us with your presence again. Now I gotta make sure you get mail? We gotta make sureLaureneis comfortable.”

“Don’t be a hater ’cause Mama ain’t pick you to marry Conrad first, Rena,” Gigi said.

“Rena, be real. You’re not angry about me coming back. What is it?”

Gigi sighed. “Can we please just keep the conversation vibin’ and not do this?”

“You’reyou—just blink, and people fall over themselves to do what you want. I’ve been here! Mama’s been relying on me, but she’s asking me to bring your fucking mail?”

“You know Mama likes to start stuff,” Gigi said.

“How long did you know you were coming back? Hmm? You planned this, right when I was about to make the biggest announcement of my career.” Serena glared at me.

I frowned. “Mama called me.”

“Really? I think you went broke or got tired being alone. Or you wanted more? What’s gonna be enough for you, Laurene?”

“I’m sorry I interrupted your plans, but this blindsided me like everyone else. Being here doesn’t evoke happy memories.”

“You mean the part where she told you to get out of her house and never come back? That you were a disappointment? I don’t get it, you’re back and her favorite again? That’s bullshit.” Serena’s eyes narrowed.

I ignored her. “You think Iwantedthat life?”

My fairy tale had once been to marry Reese, but from his reaction last night, that dream was dead, along with the girl I used to be.

“Oh, poor Laurene. I’ve been working my ass off here, and nobody gives a fuck! Gigi, can you back me up here?” Serena glanced at her.

“You’re on ten, and Imma need you to come down to a two.” Gigi lowered her hands.

Weallhad to bend to Mama’s will, and we handled that pressure in different ways. I had tried to please Mama. Erik knew how to placate her. Gigi…she just did whatever the hell she wanted. But for Serena, she desperately clung to Mama’s approval.

“No offense, Rena, but you always been a bit of a kiss ass for Mama?—”

“Shut the hell up!” Serena snapped at Gigi, who frowned.

“She’s right,” I said. “You’ve spent your whole life trying to be Mama’s favorite, and for what? You want my position that bad, have it. Newsflash, though: it’s not gonna make anything in your life any easier. In fact, you’ll fucking hate yourself for it.”

Serena’s chest rose and fell rapidly.

“Wake up, Serena. Stand up to her now, before it’s too late like it was for me. You’re yelling at me, but I think you need to be having a conversation with Mama.”

“Look, just don’t, okay? You left your family—us—when we needed you. You try to act like Mama’s so bad, but she’s not. You’re just jealous you’re not the favorite anymore, and I did what you couldn’t.”

I sighed. “We all know Mama needed help after Grandpa died.” I pushed the comforter back, standing. “That’s why Mama started spiralling. But nobody in this family wants to admit that. She needs help. Her behavior now is coping.”

Our grandma died years ago, so Grandpa was Mama’s onlyparent. Grandpa Ben had been the glue of the family. Mama hadn’t always been this way. She had been caring—she was always strict, but not like this. Not so…manic. Mean.

Grandpa had been handling a deal, but his condition challenged his abilities, and we lost a lot of money. The moment he wasn’t that strong man anymore, Mama decided that appearances were more important. She had to fill in the holes of the sinking boat that was our family. His death broke her, and we all failed her by assuming she could handle it by herself.

I had some pity for her, but that wouldn’t stop me from sabotaging her.

Serena’s face hardened. “That’s not true.”

“He had dementia, not the plague!” I snapped. “She locked him away. I’m the only one that said something, and then suddenly I have to marry Conrad Ashbourne, and she’s taking over companies? That’s part of the reason she kicked me out, because I called her out.”

“Can we just stop?” Gigi’s voice was soft as her eyes darted between the two of us. “Why are we doing this? Why can’t we justtalk?”

I wanted Serena to hurt now.

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