Page 35 of All Wrong
One more knock, followed by a firm, “Corinne, I know you’re home. Open up, or I’m going to use my key.”
The silly fantasy evaporated. It wasn’t Nick who’d come a-knocking, but her sister, and Lacie could be tenacious. Corinne reluctantly hit the pause button and got up off the couch.
She stepped back to avoid getting hit by the dooras her older sister rushed in. “What the heck, Corinne? Why aren’t you answering your phone?”
“Because I didn’t hear it.” Corinne glanced around for her mobile. It wasn’t on the table. Wasn’t on the couch. Eventually, she found it in her purse. When she pulled it out and woke up the screen, she had notifications for three unread text messages and three missed calls, all from Lacie. “I guess I forgot to take it out when I got home.” Her mind immediately went to dark places. “What’s going on? Is everyone okay? Did something happen to Mom or Dad?”
“No, they’re fine,” Lacie assured her. “But what if someone had needed you?”
Corinne almost laughed out loud at that. No one needed her for anything. She was kept in the family loop as a courtesy, not a necessity.
Lacie’s eyes moved away from Corinne, looking over the space, taking in the coffee table full of junk food and the image of a shirtless, muscular, tattooed torso on the screen. Her brow furrowed. “You’re having another binge night?”
Corinne didn’t feel the need to answer the obvious. Nor did she care to discuss it. She loved her sister—she really did—but she was in a mood. The kind of mood where she wanted to eat snacks in her PJs and watch sexy bikers claim their women, nottalk about how much her life sucked. Maybe tomorrow, she’d feel differently, but tonight, she just wanted to forget for a few hours.
“So, what’s so important that you felt the need to run over here and get on my case?” Corinne asked.
Hurt flashed in Lacie’s eyes. “You didn’t answer.”
Corinne sighed. “I’m allowed to unplug once in a while, Lace.”
“I know, but you’ve been … off lately. I worry.”
That right there was part of the problem. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m a big girl. I can handle my own business.”
“Is that why you didn’t tell me you were being evicted?”
Shit. “Where did you hear that?”
“I ran into Carmen at the Legion game. She asked if I was aware of any vacancies in the Callaghan-owned properties.”
Right, because the Callaghans had invested heavily in local property and owned several apartment buildings. Lacie’s first apartment had been in a Callaghan-owned building.
“When I asked her why she was asking, she said her building—your building—was being sold and everyone would be getting eviction notices by the first of the month.”
Lacie looked at Corinne expectantly.
Corinne shrugged. “She’s not wrong.”
“She also said that Mr. Katarsky came around and told everyone personally last Sunday.”
“Also true.”
“So, why didn’t you say anything?”
Because I wanted to avoid this. Because I’m perfectly capable of handling my own business without your help.
Corinne felt a stab of guilt for even thinking that. It didn’t matter if it was true or not. What she said was, “I’ll handle it. It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal?” Lacie looked back at the binge-fest, then narrowed her eyes. “What else are you not telling me?”
That stab of guilt dulled into resignation. The news would get back to Lacie sooner or later, and they’d have to repeat this whole awkwardwhy didn’t you tell mescenario again.
“I didn’t get the promotion at the bank. Becci Miller did.”
Lacie’s eyes widened. “Becci Miller! You’re kidding!”
“Nope.”
