“You can’t buy me.”
I hope it doesn’t come to the point where I find out she was lying. I want to believe she’s still different from everyone else.
9
Whitney
This afternoon has beena trip down memory lane, and I’ve hit every pothole in the road. I wanted to sneak back into Gable quietly, without anyone being the wiser, hug my cousin and my aunt and lick my wounds in peace for a while. Clearly, that wasn’t in the cards.
After stuffing ourselves at Cocko Taco, I’m feeling a tiny bit better about my decision to return. Top-notch guac and queso can do that for a girl.
Cricket guides her van down roads I know by heart, but they look different after ten years away. Older houses that were beyond repair have been replaced with new construction. The high school looks like it’s brand new, and the Riscoff Memorial High sign out front reminds me of the man I just saw.
Before today, it was easier not to think about all the things that have been changing in my absence. Including the fact that Lincoln has aged better than the Italian wine Ricky once tried to collect but drank within months instead ... right before his first stint in rehab.
Cricket turns left down Aunt Jackie’s street, and I catch a glimpse of the mountain peaks rising above the tall pines. At least some things don’t change.
“Beware, Karma’s been in the shittiest mood for the last couple months, and I have no idea why. I think she’s pregnant again, but I’m afraid to ask her. Lord knows, the last time I asked that, she ripped me a new one.”
“Again?”
Cricket nods.
“Is she still seeing the twins’ dad?”
“Lord only knows. She won’t tell me anything. It’s like the older she gets, the bitchier she gets, which means there’s pretty much no end in sight to this downward spiral.”
When we were growing up, I always had Asa, and he’d taken his role as big brother seriously, scaring off any guy who looked my way. Other than that, as far as siblings went, he was a pretty damn good one overall. I’ve been saved from ever wanting a sister, though, because of Karma.
I brace for impact as we roll into the driveway and Cricket shifts the van into park. The front door swings open as she and I grab my bags out of the back and carry them to the front stoop.
“Knew you’d come crawling home eventually, and here you are.”
Karma’s voice should sound exactly like Cricket’s, but years of bitterness, starting when she was a kid and wanted a pony but Jackie couldn’t afford one, have turned it hard and mean. She leans against the door, not moving out of the way, even though it’s clear we’re headed inside.
I stop before the stairs and release the handle of one suitcase. “Hey, Karma. It’s good to see you.”
Her lip curls. “You look like LA chewed you up and kicked you to the curb.” Her gaze drops to my suitcase. “But you managed to make it out with your fancy luggage, didn’t you?”
“Really? That’s how you’re going to say hello after ten freaking years? You’re a cunt.” Cricket holds nothing back when it comes to her twin.
Karma’s tawny gaze shifts to her sister as she glares. “Takes one to know one. You’re just all high-and-mighty because you’re locking down Hunter Havalin’s dick. I guess I should’ve taken him for a ride when I had the chance.”
I step back like I’m trying to escape the cloud of venom she emits. It should be impossible for two people who look exactly alike to be so completely different.
“I’m not sure what planet you’re living on, but you never had a chance with Hunter. He knew you were a ho from minute one. Now, why don’t you swallow back that bitterness and get out of the damn way so we can take Whitney’s stuff inside.”
“And where exactly is she going to sleep? If you don’t recall, you’re sleeping on the couch when you’re here, because we don’t have any more room.”
“Maybe if you’d keep your legs closed, we wouldn’t have that problem,” Cricket fires back with a hard shot.
“Bitch.”
“Whore.”
I step in because I’m afraid there’s going to be bloodshed if I don’t. There certainly was in the past. “Okay, enough of the sisterly bonding. I’ll take the floor in the living room. It’s not a big deal. I just need somewhere to crash while I figure things out. If that’s not cool with Aunt Jackie, I’ll get a cheap hotel.” I don’t have the funds to afford it, but right now, I’m not sure I want to be in the same house with Karma and her ugliness.
“There’s a shed out back with a futon Mom used to use for her art projects. There should be room for you and your shit.” Karma shoves a toe against my carry-on and knocks it over.