Page 14 of Ruling Scar
“No, I’m not.”
Ads levels me with a look. “If you went to a bookstore weekly, you’d be coming home with twelve new books every time.”
Fuck. She’s got me there and the glint in her eyes tells me she knows it too.
Incoherent words rattle in my throat as I try to take up a defense. But her next question shakes me to my core.
“Are you dating someone?”
“D-dating?” I think she might be serious.
Adeline nods toward my phone on the bed. “Your texting people all the time. And then you go to ‘book club’.” She air quotes.
She thinks I’m hiding something and she’s right. It’s just not what she thinks.
My sister, for all her dramatics, has a serious side which runs deep.
Adeline went to brunch earlier with friends and while I’m in pajamas, she’s wearing a short skirt with tights and a blouse. She wore a leather jacket over it and looked like Julia Roberts fromNotting Hill.
She’s never struggled for friends and she’s dated her whole life. Her freshman year at university she brought home a serious boyfriend. An Irish guy no less.
They broke up and she’s kept quiet about it, but I know it hit her hard. Sometimes I wonder if she misses Ciaran and is forcing herself to go out in a bid to get over him.
I don’t hate her for having a life.
But it’s hard seeing my baby sister experience things while I just. . . languish. She’s checked all these things off and I’ve only read about them in books.
There’s a spark of worry on Adeline’s face, but it’s mixed with a hint of happiness.
My shoulders sag as I let her down. “I’m not dating anyone.”
She pouts, not inclined to believe her big sister.
“I’m not lying.” But my phone lights up and she grabs for it. “Rude!” We struggle with the phone.
“Who’s texting you all the time then? What’s going on? I want to know.”
“Nosy as fuck!” I nearly topple backward but I’m victorious, clutching my phone to my chest.
“Tell me,” Adeline demands.
“Fine, okay.”
I know I shouldn’t say anything but her chocolate chip eyes pin me down. She’s not leaving this room without information.
I take a deep breath, settling into the floor by my bed. “I tried to go to book club but I chickened out.”
She nods, silently telling me to go on.
“So I walked around the corner,” I recount and nervously grimace as I add, “And went to Fujimori’s.”
The information takes a moment to settle in.
“Wait, what?” Her shiny brunette locks fall to the side as she tilts her head. “You mean Fujimori’s, Fujimori’s?”
“Yep.” The one and only.
When her mouth opens and her eyes pop out I wish I’d lied about dating someone.
