Page 87 of Free to Run
“Why do you think I try to sit on the same side of the table as her during dinner?” I say lightly, trying to keep her mood lifted.
Alison grins. “Come sit down by me. We’re too far for her to reach.”
Tagging the back of her neck, I squeeze. “Deal.”
Just then, Alison’s cell phone rings, causing her to jump in surprise. “It’s Cassidy.” She quickly answers with a smile. “Hey, your ears must have been burning. We were just talking about you.”
It takes less than a moment for the light I had been watching in her eyes to slowly fade. “I didn’t make a mistake drawing up the contract, Cassidy.” She pauses. “No. I didn’t. Those were the terms I was given on the client sheet.” There’s silence while she listens. “Yes, I checked. When did you discuss adding Holly’s services? This afternoon? And did you bother to tell me before I left the office?” Alison pinches the bridge of her nose between her fingers. “No, Cassidy, I didn’t check my email after five. I’ve been busy.”
“Alison,” I say softly as she slides off the barstool. She shakes her head at me.
“Cassidy, I understand you’re feeling a lack of control. I get it, trust me. Taking it out on me isn’t going to help though. If you needed changes, I would’ve been happy to have put them in immediately. But you should have called me.” She stands stock-still. Her voice crackles with bitterness. “You know what? You’re absolutely right. Before I fell in love with your brother, I was much more available. Now that I have someone who I spend my time with outside of work, you’re pissed at me because I’m not at work’s beck and call. Or are you pissed because it’s Keene? Hello? Hello? Damnit!” Alison hurls her phone onto the couch.
Moving swiftly to her, I pull her into my arms, holding her patiently while she crumbles. I’m mentally seething at my sister. Bending at the knees, I pick up Alison and carry her over to the couch, not far from where the phone landed.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, love. You’re not expected to read her mind,” I assure her.
She sniffles into my shoulder. “I know. I’m just so tired of defending myself, Keene. It makes Jared’s offer look more and more appealing.”
One night, while we were lying in bed, I asked Alison what she would be doing if she weren’t working for the family. She told me about the offer she received to work for Watson, Rubenstein, and Dalton. I had whistled long and low, knowing the prestigious firm didn’t hand out offers to just anyone. “Is it something you’re considering seriously now?” Maybe I should be wondering if Alison’s photos would be joining mine on the walls of the condo.
She shrugs. “I don’t want to. I was happy, Keene. I…” Her hands flail helplessly. “I just don’t know what to do anymore.”
Her phone rings again. Cassidy. “Let it go to voicemail,” I suggest.
She shakes her head. “I can’t. Not with her as pregnant as she is.”
“Then put it on speaker. I want to hear what she has to say,” I demand.
She bites her lip before nodding, even as she’s pressing the speaker button. “Was there something else?” Alison’s voice is quiet.
“It turns out the email never left my inbox. It was a computer glitch. I’ll see you tomorrow, and we can fix the contract then. Have a good night.”
Alison’s thumb moves, but before she can push it, I say, “Are you fucking kidding me, Cassidy? My woman is sitting here in tears because you’re having some sort of personality displacement disorder, and you think you can get away without a damn apology? I think not.”
“Personality displacement? It’s called being pregnant with twins, Keene. Try it sometime,” Cassidy snaps back.
Alison bites her lip and looks away.
“It’s called being a human. You made the mistake, not Alison. Not me. So be one and apologize. After all, you’ve forced your sister to apologize to any number of people before when she hasn’t wanted to, haven’t you?” I add silkily.
“Completely different, Keene. I was trying to help this family adjust to everyone being a part of it. This was work,” Cassidy argues.
“And it was your mistake, not Alison’s. So, lose some of that damned righteousness and apologize before you lose your attorney,” I tell my sister.
Cassidy laughs. “Where would Ali go? She loves working with us. We’re her family.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised, sister dear. Have a good night.” I disconnect, leaving her to stew on that thought. Now it’s my turn to throw Alison’s cell phone. “God, she can be so damn stubborn.”
Alison laughs in my lap.
“I’m so glad that amused you,” I grumble, even though I’ll gladly stand on my head to make her laugh instead of cry. “What’s so funny?”
“Can you imagine you two as teenagers if you do this much fighting now? It was probably best for the northern hemisphere you two grew up apart.” Alison lets out another giggle before slapping her hands over her mouth.
Astounded by her train of thought, I stare at her. The next thing I know, I have Alison flipped on her back and I’m tickling her for all she’s worth.
“Stop!” she screeches. “I can’t take it!” I pause momentarily to allow her to get her breath back before I pin her with a wicked smile and get her right behind the knee. She’s rolling back and forth on the couch, squirming. “You have to stop, Keene! I swear, I’m going to pee all over your couch!” Her face is red from laughing. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.
