“Excuse me? Are you expecting me to throw the trust and bond I have with my son out the window to appease and abide by the whims of a man who, until less than a month ago, pretended we weren’t in existence? Crew that.” I left the S out intentionally.
“I expect you to do the sensible thing and let him help you out.” Mom squared her shoulders, a haughty look on her face.
“We did fine before him. Bear’ll meet him when he’s ready, and not a moment earlier.”
“You’re being stubborn,” my mother stated.
You’re being judgmental.
Her lips pressed into a tighter line. “Take the money.”
Take your nose out of my business.
But I couldn’t say that.
I didn’t have the balls.
“Listen, Nessy, I honestly think he’s a changed man. I mean, he is trying really hard. Got a job with his old man and everything,” Trinity cooed, still staring at herself in the mirror. “Wyatt told me he came to visit the Costellos last night. They had a big dinner and all. Cruz and Wyatt were there, too.”
“Yeah. Cruz told me. We talked about it,” Gabriella automatically said, making it known that she and Cruz were speaking.
Just piss on his leg, honey, why don’t you?
What bothered me more than my mother telling me to rush Bear into meeting Robert was the fact that Cruz seemed to become his buddy again right away. I felt so stupid for tumbling into bed with Cruz.
The two were probably comparing notes about me yesterday over beers.
“Look, I’m not saying Rob can’t see Bear or can’t live in this town. All I’m saying is that we’re taking it one day at a time and getting used to having him around again. That’s all.”
After Trinity had her measurements retaken, the three of us poured out of the store into the bright summer day. Gabriella air-kissed my sister on both cheeks and hugged my mother.
Mom laced her arm in Trinity’s and was about to guide her back to their car. Trinity put her hand on Mom’s elbow.
“Mom, get the car, will you? I have to talk to Nessy for a sec.”
Uh oh.
This couldn’t be good. Whenever my sister wanted to get me alone, it was because she wanted to chide me. More often than not, because of my manners and reputation. Last time that happened, she tried to force me to apologize to Tim Trapp for not going out with him.
I stood next to her like a punished child, awaiting the verdict after giving the dog a makeover.
When Mom was out of earshot, Trinity turned to me, a polite smile on her face. Like we weren’t two sisters with an unbreakable bond but strangers who’d happened to occupy the same house for twenty-three years before I moved out.
“Nessy, you know how much I love you.”
“I sense a but coming my way.” I folded my arms, already on the defense.
Trinity heaved a sigh, playing with the clasp of the Gucci tote Wyatt had bought her for Christmas. “But I noticed you were kind of throwing yourself all over Cruz while we were on vacation. Honestly, it was a little embarrassing to watch. Gabriella is my best friend and my maid of honor. I know I have no right to ask this of you, but could you please try to…back off? For me? I just couldn’t stand to see you hurt when you’re rejected like that, you know?”
I wanted to throw my head back and laugh. Instead, I stared at her, deadly calm.
“I have not been throwing myself at Dr. Costello.”
“You have to promise me you won’t make things complicated. I love you so much…” Again, that gass-covering, the thing she said before something hurtful came out of her mouth. “But you’re Messy Nessy, and a lot of people in Fairhope are calling this the wedding of the year. People are seeing me for a change. Please don’t ruin it for me. Please. I finally think I’m getting somewhere with Catherine.”
I was glad I was so good at hiding my feelings, because every single part of me wanted to puke on her sensible shoes. Instead, I flashed her one of my infamous pouts, shrugging as I let her comments roll off of my back.
A few construction workers passed us by and whistled at me on their way to a sandwich shop.
“Howdy, Messy Nessy. Oh, how I’d like to take you for a spin.”
Trinity scrunched her nose, disgusted.
“Worry not, little sis. I’m staying the heck away from Mr. Fancy Pants. Gabriella can have him.” And because I was tired of being the harlot who couldn’t bag a man, I added, “Rob wants another chance. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll give it to him. For all his faults, he’s still pretty hot.”