Page 55 of Where We Belong

“I might be sick,” I reply.

“Oh my god, you’re such a drama queen. It’s just stuffing.”

“Just the word makes me gag.”

“Would you rather some testicle, then?”

“You’re a witch,” I say.

Lexie rolls her eyes, smirking, while Josie giggles, sitting at the countertop next to her.

Even if I hadn’t known those two were related, I would’ve guessed it within a minute. Yesterday, when we came back from breakfast and Lexie invited me in to introduce me to Josie, the first thing that came to mind was,Look, a mini Crabby!Except she isn’t actually crabby like her sister, mostly shy and quiet. I think I’ve gotten to her, though. Last night was Christmas Eve, and surprisingly, the three of us were alone in the house. Lexie didn’t seem surprised that her mother didn’t come home all night, so we didn’t make a fuss about it and we simply ordered pizza and played Monopoly—a ruthless game, might I add. While Josie barely said a word all afternoon, by the time we’d finished the game, she was right there with Lexie, shouting at me to stop stealing their money.

What can I say? I’m pretty fucking good at Monopoly.

I left for my hotel well past midnight and came back this morning, once again finding the girls alone. Yesterday, Josie might’ve taken their loneliness well, but today, she was clearly sad not to have her entire family with her on Christmas Day. So Lexie decided to recreate a typical Christmas as best she could with what she had on hand, which is why I’m now stuck cooking some of the food I hate most in this world. Gravy, dry turkey, and whateveryamsare, were all invented by the devil.

“Give it to me, then,” Lexie says as she grabs the stained white plastic bowl from my hand.

“My lord and savior,” I tell her.

She moves past me to get to the other side of the kitchen, but since the space is small and I’m leaning against the counter, her ass grazes my front, all the while her smell surrounds me. I grit my teeth as I feel my body immediately react to her, just like it has the bad tendency to do these days.

Think of something else. Anything not to get a boner, especially in front of Josie.

Eventually, the thought of stinky hockey gear does the trick, but not fast enough for me not to become aflame. At least both girls seem too busy to notice.

This has got to stop. I can’t continue thinking about her like that, especially after what she’s shared about her past, but easier said than done. It’s like she has the power to turn me on with a single glance. I hate it.

“Lexie’s recipe is good, actually,” Josie says, thankfully bringing my attention elsewhere. “Much better than—”

The sound of the front door opening stops her in her tracks. We all turn to see who I can only assume is Lexie’s mother wobbling inside, accompanied by some older guy and another man who looks about my age. Immediately, the house fills with the smell of pot and cheap liquor.

“Mom!” Josie says, a heartbreaking smile on her lips. Even though her mother looks like she’s just stepped out of a rave and likely doesn’t even remember what day it is, Lexie’s sister is happy to have her around.

I don’t miss the way Lexie doesn’t acknowledge anyone. In fact, if I had to guess, I’d say she’s probably pissed at all of them for not being here earlier or even yesterday. I get that. If it were my parents that had broken Francesca’s heart, I would’ve already blown a fuse. Not that that could ever be our reality. No, in ours, my parents are the heartbroken ones, wondering why their daughter won’t let them in. Mom and Dad called this morning to say she hadn’t showed up for their scheduled dinner yesterday, even though she still technically lives at home. And the worst part of it all is, there’s nothing I can do about it.

Lexie’s mother steps inside the house with her high-heeled boots still on, the other two, who I assume are her boyfriend and son, following close behind. I expect for her to notice the food we’ve been cooking or the strings of tinsel we wrapped around one of the windows and wish her daughters a merry Christmas, but what she does is settle in front of me and say, “And who the hell are you?”

“I’m—”

“You got a boyfriend and didn’t tell me?” she interrupts, this time addressing her question to Lexie.

“No. Of course not,” Lexie says, and I won’t lie, the way the words come out of her mouth does sting. For a second, I’m thrown right back to Sonder Hill ten years prior, the same feelings of dread bubbling. Obviously, we’re not together, but I wish it wasn’t such a shameful thing to be associated with me.

“He’s a friend.” She wipes her hands on her form-fitting jeans. “Finn, my mother, Cynthia. Mom, this is Finn. I train at his family’s gym in Vermont.”

Despite not wanting to, I paste on a smile and walk to Cynthia, offering my hand. “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake. Don’t call me that.”

“Mom,” Lexie growls.

“It’s okay,” I say, making sure my smile is still intact. “I just wanted to thank you for welcoming me today.”

She sucks air through her teeth as she looks me up and down, then simply says, “I need a cigarette. Jim?”

The older man behind her pulls out a pack out of his pocket, then hands it to her. “I’ll come with.” The two of them disappear outside, taking with them all the warmth we spent the day creating.

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