Page 96 of Free to Breathe
The loss of Jack in my life is like walking out of a bad movie. There are horrible images burned in my mind and a foul stench in my nose. Corinna assures me that eventually, these feelings will pass as new memories are made with people who truly love me. Apparently, these are going to include my grandfather, who is so enamored of my girlfriend he’s already making plans to come up and visit during her recovery.
Seems we were all wrong. I look forward to forging new bonds back into my family fold, but the only person I plan on bringing with me is Corinna.
Not the brother I never knew I had.
49
Corinna
Two nights before surgery
“Idon’t know why I can’t go home to get ready for a date with my boyfriend,” I grumble to my sisters. We’ve all gathered at Emily’s house because Em got a burr up her ass and wants to play dress up. “Especially one that starts at two o’clock in the afternoon.”
“Listen, your idea of dressing up typically involves a new pair of Chucks and clean jeans,” Em retorts as she makes her way into her closet, calling over her shoulder, “I want you to drop Colby to his knees.”
With a secret smile, I open my mouth to reply, but Ali beats me to it. “Jesus, if that look is anything to go by, he’s on his knees quite a bit.”
We all crack up laughing. Shrugging, I let the teasing go. Why deny something that’s entirely true?
Holly runs her fingers through the close cut of my hair. “I’m still not used to it.”
Cassidy sits down next to me on Em’s bed. Reaching for my hand, she gives it a quick squeeze. “It suits you though. Sexy and sassy.”
Fingering the front of my bangs, I admit, “I don’t know why I didn’t do this years ago. It’s so much easier to take care of.”
Em walks out of her closet, her arms laden with dresses. Hoisting them onto the bed behind us, she commands, “Strip.”
Innocently I ask, “But there’s no music. Besides, that’s Ali’s thing. She’s the one who took classes.”
Ali rolls her eyes. “I took pole dancing classes to strengthen my core.”
“Bet you’re getting use out of them these days.” I wink.
A dazzling smile lights her face. “True.”
Cassidy slaps her hands over her mouth to stop the guffaws.
Em blows a puff of air upward to dislodge the stuck hair on her forehead. “Okay. I’ve narrowed this down to four choices. Let’s figure out what you’re wearing so we can get the rest of you ready.”
I groan. “Tell me one of them is long. This not shaving my legs crap is killing me.”
My sisters all laugh. “I would think not being able to shave there”—Holly makes a circle indicating my sex—“would be worse.”
“I feel like Colby has to shave more often so only one of us is sporting a five-o’clock shadow,” I say dryly. Screaming laughter echoes around the room. “Seriously, I’m afraid of creating a knot with our genital hair when we’re having sex.”
Ali falls to the floor screeching. Em is leaning against her dresser for support. Cassidy slides backward onto the bed and lands on the dresses, while Holly rips out her cell phone muttering, “I wish I got that on video.”
That sends us into another round of fits.
When we finally finish laughing, Em pulls a short red number from the pile Cassidy has rolled all over. “I guess this one’s out of the running. Just in case the wind blows the skirt up.”
Even as Em goes to hang the dress, Cassidy, Ali, Holly, and I lose it again.
Okay, I might not have needed help getting ready for a date, but this right here defines my meaning of sisterhood. Sharing the good times and the bad with unasked support and incredible laughter.
* * *
A few hours later,even I’m surprised by the transformation. Em’s miracle closet yielded the most perfect dress: a strapless magenta silk dress with a pleated front detail that dips lower in the back. The bust line is something I’ve never seen before. It had an almost V cut down to the A-line seam. The material of dress seems to loop through the base, offering modesty, yet still drawing your eye.
