Page 50 of Greedy Grizzly
“Sister?” Maddy’s eyebrows shot up. “Did we know you had a sister?” She turned to Tina and then back to me.
“No.” Panic threatened to drown me. My life was spiraling out of control, and I couldn’t stop it. “I haven’t mentioned her before now, and sort of wishing I hadn’t let it slip.” Only Landon and Toby knew about Bridget. But I hadn’t told them everything, like my real name was Lydia.
“Oh, honey. This is a judgment-free zone. You know that. We all have things in our past we’re not thrilled about.” Tina glanced at Maddy. “Well, maybe not you, Angel.”
“True.” Maddy grimaced. “I had a good childhood, but I would never judge anyone on theirs.”
“We know, dear.” Tina smiled sweetly. “Libby, you can always share anything with us, but we’ll understand if you don’t.”
“Thank you, both. I just feel like a hot mess right now.” I kissed the top of Sophia’s head to distract myself for a couple of seconds. “My past is roaring back at a destructive speed, and I’m not prepared for the impending collision. It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen her.”
“We’re here to help you through anything and everything.” Tina reached her hand toward me, and I accepted her caring gesture.
I looked at Maddy and Tina. “I love our little tribe so much. You both and Sugar, and all the other old ladies are simply the best. I feel so lucky to be here.”
“I feel the same way,” Tina said.
“Me too.” Maddy nodded.
“You should talk to Grizzly. Let him be your support and rock.” Tina was right. I should depend on my guy more than I have.
“And maybe Toby, too.” Maddy winked. “He’s wonderful during stressful situations.”
Okay, I didn’t expect her to bring up Toby. It was like she knew about him, that he was bi, but I didn’t want to ask her in front of Tina.
All these secrets were really starting to stress me out. It would be freeing to just get everything out in the open once and for all.
“I appreciate you both so much,” I told them. “Please don’t mention this to anyone. I have no idea what kind of chaos is about to implode on me.”
“You have our word,” Maddy said with an assuring nod.
I believed her. Believed them.
And more than ever I needed to lock Landon and Toby in a room so we could talk everything out.
Maddy and Tina put their babies in the portable playpen to free up their hands so they could get the final touches on supper finished.
Relieved to have the spotlight off me, I reclined in the chair with Sophia sleeping peacefully in my arms, and recalled the day Bridget slammed the door in my face.
My sister answered the door in a long T-shirt and a tart expression. “You have some nerve showing up here.” One look at her and I knew she had a client inside. The scent of weed mixed with cum wafted off her.
“I know, sorry to bother you. I was hoping we could make amends.” I knew it would be risky dropping in on Bridget after two years, but I had nowhere else to go and we were sisters. The only family we had left. Surely, enough time had passed and she’d want to repair our broken relationship. “And you don’t need to worry about Bryan. We broke up. He won’t be a problem.”
“Not interested.” She slammed the door and bolted it.
Well, that was that. I tried and I wouldn’t beg her to give me a chance.
There was nothing left for me in Cleveland, nothing but horrible memories and heartache. I got into my beater car and headed for the interstate. I didn’t know where the road would lead me, but I knew I’d never looked back.
I felt slightly better after talking with Tina and Maddy.
But the weird niggling in my stomach told me things could get a lot worse before they got better. I needed Landon and Toby for moral support if I went to the Mayo Clinic. I couldn’t see Bridget alone. We didn’t know each other anymore. I’d changed, and she probably had too.
Somehow I knew she hadn’t turned things around and wasn’t living a normal life, whatevernormalmeant. But maybe she was.
I shouldn’t be so cynical. She’d always wanted a beautiful home and a picket fence. Kids and a dog in the yard. A doting husband that treated her like a queen. All the things that made up a traditional family.
Things I’d never have because I was a Kitten, a club girl in a motorcycle club.
