Page 61 of Fair Play
“Hi, Mom.” I open the door and stare.
“Surprise!” My other sister, Catalina, is standing there with a big smile on her face—and what looks like a casserole.
“We brought dinner!” Mom announces.
“And your favorite sister is in town for a visit!” Catalina moves in for a hug and I wrap my arms around her for a quick one.
“Why didn’t you call?” I ask pointedly as we move inside.
Mom glances over her shoulder at me. “You got hurt. We were worried. And Cat wanted to see you. Are you mad that we came over and brought dinner?”
“Not mad,” I say pragmatically, “but I was just about to order dinner for Billie and me. She?—”
“There’s plenty,” Mom interrupts, continuing into the kitchen. “She can join us. And you should be off your feet.”
I refrain from rolling my eyes but limp into the kitchen to see what they’re up to.
“So you’re home.” Catalina smiles, though she appears to be studying me intently.
I arch my brows. “This hasn’t been home in a long time.”
“Home is where your family is.”
“You’re not here anymore,” I point out.
“But Mom and Athena are. The house we grew up in. All the memories of Dad.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say something snarky about how she didn’t spend time with Dad when he was alive, so why is she suddenly nostalgic now that he’s dead… but I opt to keep the peace.
They brought dinner.
It was thoughtful.
Annoying, but thoughtful.
“Tell me about this Billie person who’s driving Dad’s car,” Catalina continues as she pulls plates out of the cupboard.
“There will be four of us,” I say when she only gets out three plates. “And I’d like to wait for Billie to get home before we eat.”
“But it’s hot now.” Catalina turns. “And it’s Mom’s vegetable lasagna. Your favorite.”
“It is. And it’ll still be my favorite in twenty minutes when Billie gets home.”
Catalina frowns. “Are you sleeping with this girl? Athena said she’s twenty-two. You really need to get over this thing you have for girls that age.”
And there it is.
Catalina and I have never been close, and this is one of the reasons why. The other reason is that she’s still best friends with Denise. She introduced us and essentially took her side when we divorced—believing every lie Denise told her instead of her own brother.
I look at my mother. “Seriously? This is your idea of a surprise? I think I’d rather just order food.” Without a word, I leave the kitchen and make my way to the couch.
“Rome, wait.” My mother and Catalina trail after me, and I hear my mother whisper something to her.
“I’m sorry. Really, I am.” Catalina sinks down next to me and puts her hand on my arm. Neither her expression nor her tone is particularly apologetic, and then she just digs in deeper. “But you do have a type. And look where it’s gotten you.”
“I don’t need my sister to remind me of the mistakes I’ve made,” I say calmly, even though I’m raging on the inside. “And if you recall, you’re the one who set me up with Denise.”
“You cheated on her.”
