Page 7 of Dear Pink

“My grandson Freddy loves those books,” June says, leaning toward my computer screen. “The bears are adorable. We’ve read the entire series.”

“Do the bears play polo?”

“Polo? No, they’re pol-ar bears, honey.” Her wrinkled brow almost matches Sandra’s tone, but June is too nice to show actual disdain.

“Of course, they are.”

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Sandra, please advise. The print copy has the following typo: “Polo” Bears instead of “Polar” Bears.

Hannah

Chapter 2 - Gabe

“Gina, why is John Legend blaring in the office at 8 a.m.? It’s too early.”

“Oh, Gabe, stop complaining. Peaches adores his love songs,” she says, adjusting the volume and holding a bright orange tabby the size of a teacup.

I put my bike helmet on a hook by the door and give her my most serious face. “You named her Peaches? I’m not keeping the kitten.”

Gina hands the fluffy bundle to me, and the kitten licks my cheek with her scratchy tongue. She’s an expert at tugging my heartstrings. Plus, it’s impossible to say no to my baby sister.

“We can’t keep every kitten left at the clinic’s doorstep. I’ll end up with a thousand cats.” Peaches rubs her wet nose against mine and purrs. “What about Lolly? She might eat her.”

“She loves Peaches.”

“Yeah, for a breakfast snack.” On cue, Lolly gallops out of the backroom, puts her big front paws on my shoulders, and slobbers all over Peaches with her giant tongue. “Told you so.”

“Knock it off, Gabe. Lolly isn’t eating her. She’s giving her a kiss.”

Before I object, Peaches loosens her kitten grip on my scrubs and secures her claws into Lolly’s eyebrow. Her eye droops with the weight, but she doesn’t seem to care. Peaches climbs over Lolly’s face and settles onto the back of her neck. “Traitor,” I whisper, but Lolly gives me her adorable Great Dane smile that made me keep her five years ago and plops to the floor. “Fine, I surrender.”

“Of course, you do. When have you ever won a fight with a Russo sister?”

I lean over the counter and pinch Gina’s nose. “Thanks for walking Lolly this morning. You better go or you’ll be late for class. High school awaits.”

“Okay, but Ms. Augustine will be here with Rocky at 8:30 for his canine wellness check.”

“Gloria should be here soon.” I frown at the time. “I hope.”

The bell chimes and Gloria saunters through the door inappropriately dressed in stilettos, a low-cut silk tank, and a clingy black skirt with a slit to her belly button, her mascara smudged around her eyes. No brother should witness his sister’s walk of shame.

“Speak of the devil,” Gina says, grabbing her backpack from the floor. In white saddle shoes and a plaid jumper, she stands in stark contrast to Gloria.

“You talking shit about me again?” She throws her long brown hair in a loose knot and dumps her gym bag on the counter.

Gina walks around the counter and goes on her tiptoes, kissing Gloria on the cheek. “Gabe’s having one of his mornings,” she whispers to Gloria as she walks out the door.

Gloria leans on the counter for balance and slips off one of her heels. “It’s been a year. Get over it already. No woman is worth celibacy.”

“Maybe I should move?”

“Don’t be absurd. Russo’s Animal Clinic has been on McKinney Avenue for over fifty years. Do you want me to talk to Elise? I’ll do it. I’d love to go head-to-head. Give me the word.”

When Gloria gets upset, people listen. Her fiery Italian personality intimidates anyone who stands in her way when she’s passionate about a project. She puts her whole heart into everything she does. But what’s the point? My heart’s broken. I’m broken. “No. I don’t want you involved. I’ll deal with it.”

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