Page 92 of Calling the Shots

“Yes, sir. Fine.” Mack resumes eating at a rapid pace, his plate almost clean. Tinsley’s still not back.

“I’m going to check on Tinsley.” Emma Kate tosses her napkin on the table. “I’m done eating anyway.”

“Oh for heaven’s sake. I’ve never had so many disruptions at a meal,” Mrs. McIntire mutters, but Emma Kate ignores her. She hustles away from the table, leaving me and Mack alone with his parents.

We eat in silence for a few more minutes, the mood strained. Suddenly, all the water and wine hits me at once and I have to pee. Desperately.

“I hate to do this, but I need to use the restroom.” I don’t bother waiting for a response, hopping up and half-jogging to the bathroom.

I burst through the door, already lifting my dress to make a sprint to the first available toilet. The restroom is spacious, a large enough spot to throw a party, complete with multiple rooms. All I care about right now though is finding a toilet.

Sprinting through an ornate sitting room, I finally find the toilets and shove into one of the private stalls. I lock the heavy door and pee in complete peace.

The stalls are fancy, with gold bath fixtures and intricately carved wood doors reaching all the way to the floor. Not like in cheaper places, where you can see the feet of the person peeing next to you.

I’m almost finished when I hear a faucet running, followed by two now-familiar voices.

Oh shit.Tinsley and Emma Kate are still in here.

It’s fine, everyone pees.I’ll just wash my hands and leave, like a normal potty break.

“I can’t believe your brother, Emma Kate.”

Tinsley, and she sounds like she’s crying.

“I mean, we were engaged! I thought he’d still care about me, at least a little.”

“I know, I know.” Emma Kate shushes her like she would a small child, her voice calm and soothing. “He’s a man, Tins. They don’t know what they want.”

“Right?” Tinsley’s voice rises, and she laughs harshly. “I mean, obviously, judging by what he brought home.”

Ouch.

My face burns and I start to sweat. I don’t know if it’s from shame or being locked in the stall, but my hair’s sticking to my neck and I’m hot all over.

“She’s so…so…”

So what, Tinsley?

Perversely, I’m dying to hear.

“Average. Like, not special. What does he possibly see in her?”

She does have a point, although it sucks to hear the words out loud. I’ve asked myself that a million times.

“You don’t think he’s going to marry her, do you, Emma Kate?” Tinsley sounds horrified at the mere idea of me marrying Mack.

“I doubt it. They haven’t been together that long, I don’t think. And like I said, she doesn’t seem like his type. If you know what I mean…”

I have a pretty good idea she’s talking about my weight and not-so-slender figure. Another wave of hot mortification rolls over me, my feelings impossibly hurt.

“Well, you’re his sister. Put in a good word for me. I thought I was over him, but maybe not. Seeing him withher—” She snarls the wordherlike I’m a vampire or a smelly swamp monster. “—is making me rethink everything.”

“You know I will, babe. Come on, my mom’s probably pissed we’ve been gone so long.”

The water shuts off and I wait until the door creaks open, then slams shut.

Silence.

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