Page 84 of Always Been You
But I miss Eddie. I miss the feel of him. His chuckles and laughter, and most of all, I miss the way he made me feel—like I’m the most important thing in the world.
The doorbell dings, pulling me from my thoughts. I look up just as Dzifa and Dashiel walk in together. I raise a brow.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Dzifa demands before I can even speak or question how they are together. She marches up to me, touching my face, then my hands, then my neck as if checking for a fever.
“No fever,” she mutters.
A small smile slips from my lips.
“Let’s go in,” I say, pulling her toward the dining table.
It’s already full and splurged with food, with most of it being my favorites. My sisters are already seated, but something’s off. They’re quiet. Too quiet.
I can’t believe I let my emotions change the usual energy of this house. There’s always laughter here.
“What’s going on?” I ask no one in particular as I take my seat. “Why the hell are you all so quiet?”
I grab a fried chicken wing, nibbling on it as I raise a brow at them.
“Fire away,” I say. I’m tired of everyone walking on eggshells around me and I know they’re all dying to know what’s going on.
“What do you mean by Eddie betrayed you?” Elisa asks bluntly and I laugh because, of course, she’s not going to beat around the bush.
I stab my fork into a salad, chewing slowly.
“Were you able to murder Eddie?” Lauren asks.
Dad, who has been silently listening, chokes on his water.
I had texted I'd murder Eddie in the family group chat one night when I was furious. Guess Lauren didn’t forget.
I reach for another chicken wing, and that’s when I belatedly realize I started eating before we were even asked to. Usually, Mom or Dad says, “Let’s eat” before we all dig in.
I open my mouth to comment on it, but then I notice something.
No one calls me out; instead, they quietly pick up their cutlery and start eating too, like nothing happened.
I guess I’m off the hook today. I reach for a drink, pouring what I think is Sprite, when suddenly—
“NO!”
Three voices shout at once. I blink, looking at my sisters like they’ve lost their minds.
“It’s alcohol,” Aria says.
Understanding dawns. We replaced all the alcohol with water bottles when Aria was pregnant so she wouldn’t feel left out at gatherings. Guess they’re doing the same for me.
“Why are you banning your sister from drinking? She needs to let loose,” Mom says as she joins us, sitting beside Dad.
“Because I’m pregnant,” I reply nonchalantly, popping another bite into my mouth.
Silence.
Mom gasps.
Dad chokes on his cutlery.
“The father is Edmund,” I add, unfazed.
