Page 81 of Reckless

“They never call me,” I tell my sister, feeling like an ass for bringing it up. I’m so bad at adulting. Sometimes life is like riding a bike with two shaky wheels that eventually fall off. It’s only a matter of when. Because if the past is any indication, my wheelsalwaysfalloff.

“Seriously?” Shefrowns.

“Nope. Not since I moved to theranch.”

“That’s weird. Are yousure?”

“Why would I lie?” I bite my nail, feeling like a petulant kid for not letting this go. “I think they’re stillmad.”

“They’re not still mad.” She tilts her head like she’s reconsidering it. “Well, they can’t bethatmad.”

I give her a look, the one that says,Come on.“It’s bad enough that they were so embarrassed by me growing up that they told everyone I had gotten a scholarship to St. Mary’s when we all know I could never swing those kind ofgrades.”

“You didn’t get a scholarship?” Her look of confusion is almostfunny.

“You know I sucked at school. Do you really think I had the scores for a scholarship? It was need-based. Not for smarts. You got all those genes,brainiac.”

She scoffs, insisting I’m smart, but she has to say that. She’s a consoler. She wants to make me feel better. I finish biting mythumbnail.

When she’s done insisting I’m not atontita, a stupid girl, I continue. “When I failed out of UT, Dad was livid, reminding me of all the sacrifices they made for me. How I was ungrateful. How all I did was get in trouble. How they should’ve sent you the little bit of money they had and notme.”

She gasps and covers her mouth. “They did not saythat!”

“Swear to God they did. Askthem.”

“Oh, Tor.” Big tears well in her eyes.No, don’t cry.“They were just mad. I know they love you so much, and you mean the world tome.”

Those tears hurdle over her lids and careen down her cheeks, and I sniffle, feeling like I want to sob right along withher.

“Love you too, KittyKat.”

We hug, and she pats my head like she did when we were young and she’d pretend I was her life-sizeddoll.

“If it makes you feel any better, Tori, I’m proud of you. So proud of you. Of the way you regrouped after that jerk broke your heart last year. For the way you’ve worked your butt off on the ranch this summer. Babysitting kids is hard work, and not only do you do a great job taking care of them, those children adore you. And with the divorce, that’s even moreimportant.”

Her baby kicks us both, and we jerk apart,laughing.

“I think that’s my hint that I should get going before we start crying again.” I motion toward the door. “But you’re going to let me plan your baby shower, right?” It’s getting late in the game, but my family is strangely superstitious and doesn’t want to jinx anything. I’m sure my mother has nearly burned down the church lighting candles for thischild.

Kat fidgets, tugging on her top. “Um…”

“What do you mean,um? Didn’t I do a great job with your bachelorette party?” I rocked that shit like abadass.

She rolls her eyes. “I think my in-laws are still traumatized by thosepresents.”

Scoffing, I get up. “Pfft. You know that was an honest mistake. Anyway, who will ever forget that Christmas? Just think of all those special holiday memories!” It really was a mistake. Totally not myfault.

“Tor, I don’t think Nipple Nibblers sex cream screams ‘special holidaymemories’.”

“You can use that as a lipgloss. Says right there on the package.” I give her my sweetest smile. “But you’re going to let me plan the baby shower,right?”

36

Ethan

Alone sliverof light cuts through the darkness at the bottom of the closet door. I’m so tired, I might fall asleep if the kids don’t find me soon, but I will my eyes to stayopen.

“Ready or not, here we come!” my daughter belts from the otherroom.

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