Page 58 of Rebound
“Do you think it’s Roman?” I whisper.
“I’m going to check.” Jules stands up and goes to open the door.
I flush the toilet and stand up, looking at the face of horror in the mirror. My make-up has shifted all over my face, my hair looks like birds have used it to nest. I shudder and pick up my toothbrush, scrubbing my mouth clean.
“It’s past eleven in the morning,” someone says, and I realize it’s Drew. Hearing his voice sends panic coursing through me.
I married my brother’s teammate! And not even one he approves of!
Oh god, oh god,oh god.Whyisn’tVegas the Bermuda Triangle? Then the Earth will open up and swallow me whole and I can pretend none of this ever happened.
“I know it’s a hard concept for you to understand, but there is such a thing called vacation on which people relax and sleep late and eat all the unhealthy food they can’t eat in their real lives,” Jules replies, sounding put off.
“This is my sister we’re talking about. When was the last time she slept past six and ate greasy fast food, even on vacation?”
I grab the cleanser, rub off last night’s make-up and splash cold water on my face.
“You can’t come in here, I’m naked!” Jules cries.
She’s probably fully dressed under her robe. I use a towel to wipe the water off my face and the gold band on my finger catches my eye. It looks odd on my finger. Even having worn an engagement ring for close to a year, this wedding band feels different. Heavier.Permanent.
I’m married. Eight months later and to the wrong man, but married, nonetheless.
Before I can overthink it and cause myself to throw up again, I dawn the other bathrobe and step out of the bathroom.
“I’m here, I’m here. There’s no need to fight.”
The door is only partially open, and Jules is standing guard at the threshold, not letting Drew in. I grab the door and allow her to walk away so I can talk to my brother.
“Hey, what’s up?” I cringe inwardly at how chipper I sound.
Drew frowns, his eyes taking in my features. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m great. I had a bit more to drink than usual.”
I hate lying to my brother. Other than Jules, he’s my best friend. We’ve been together since the womb, and you have a special relationship with a person you grew limbs with. We learned everything at the same time and went through the same development stages together. Lying to him feels like lying to myself.
I twist my left arm behind my back and cross my fingers like a child.
Drew makes a motion to come into the room and Jules yells out, “Naked!” as if she can sense him through the Force.
“If it’s an invitation, I don’t care for it,” he calls out.
Jules peeks around the corner. “You’re not the Callahan I would invite into my bed.” Then she winks at me and disappears back behind the wall.
Drew rolls his eyes, looking at me. “I don’t know how you put up with her.”
“I’m an acquired taste, Andrew. One you will never have to worry about,” Jules says.
Drew is one second away from blowing the vein in his forehead.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, drawing his attention back to me.
Drew’s green eyes are a similar shade to mine, and they look at me with a familiarity that is only earned in utero, apparently.“Roman looked a lot better than you. I wanted to make sure you were fine after last night.”
My heart thuds against my chest. “You saw Roman? What did he say?”
Drew raises a shoulder in a shrug. “Nothing. He said he left you here after you guys had a couple of drinks. I don’t trust him at all, so I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
