Page 72 of Opposites (Never) Attract
“I went horseback riding for the first time,” I told Mom, changing the subject and putting all my resentment behind me. “Carter and Ethan took me out to show me the land.”
“How about that?” she cried, with a big smile. “I always thought you were afraid of horses. You know, your dad tried to get you up on one any number of times.”
The word dad hit me in the chest. Edwardwasmy dad. He’d raised me, he’d loved me, he just hadn’t contributed to my biology.
“Not afraid,” I said, munching on a fry that was really crisp and delicious. I would need to let Amity know what a good job she was doing. “Just always wanted to be inside with a book.”
“That is true. Couldn’t pry the damn things out of your hands. You really are the smartest thing this town has ever seen.”
“Well, they’re all banking on Smarty Sunshine to save the day.”
“I always hated the way that nickname made you feel,” she said. “But I was always so proud of how hard you worked. Yesterday, you said you had an idea that would help, but it was risky.”
“It’s crypto.”
“Crypt what? Like a burial ground?” Mom lookedbaffled.
I shook my head. “Never mind. It’s just the start of an idea.”
“You’ll work it out. You always do. But for now, I’m going to enjoy having my long lost daughter home. Who doesn’t hate me for lying to her, her whole life.” She reached across the table and stole one of my fries, given that she’d already finished hers off.
“When you put it like that,” I said, with narrowed eyes.
“Oh no. You forgave me. No take-backsies.”
I laughed. Forgiveness felt better than resentment, so I held onto it with both hands.
“Hello! Was anyone going to visit me?” I turned at the sound of my sister’s voice. Bliss stood there in the tightest black jeans known to man and an old Willie Nelson concert t-shirt, tied in a knot at her waist.
Just standing there, with that smile on her face, she looked like trouble.
I leapt to my feet and pulled her into a hug. I always thought Bliss and I had more in common than we realized. We were both rebels at heart. More selfish than our sisters. Our edges sharper. I was looking forward to getting to know her better.
“We were coming to your place after lunch,” I told her.
“Likely story,” she said, with a smile.
She pulled up a chair, turned it so she straddled it, and sat down. She also proceeded to steal my fries. Like mother, like daughter.
“Amity says you and Mom made up,” she said, running a fry through a pool of ketchup.
“Word travels fast,” I said.
“We’ve got phones in Last Hope, Sun,” Bliss said. “We know how to text. We’re not completely uncivilized.”
“Didn’t say you were.”
“Oh please, you know that’s why you never come home,” Bliss said, as she munched on a fry. “No sushi in the Gulch.”
I pretended to be shocked. “What? No Sushi? I’m out then.”
“Stop messing with your sister, Bliss,” Mom said, something we heard a lot growing up. “Sunshine is here for the foreseeable future. Aren’t you, dear? So, let’s take this time to really enjoy each other’s company.”
Foreseeable future seemed intense. I had to get back to the city to keep Jared away from my clients. It was possible I was compromising my chance at a partnership by lingering in town.
It was also possible, if I ran back to NY today, they would just find another reason to postpone my promotion.
“You should come by the bar tonight,” Bliss said. “Everyone will be there.”
