Page 74 of Feels Like Falling
Muttering under his breath, Montana swats at me again as he follows me under the spray, and just like he said, it’s the best shower I’ve ever had.
34
ELLISON
“Hey, I just need to stop over at my dad’s real fast and then we can head to dinner,” I say without looking up from the text I’m trying to send.
“Can we do it tomorrow?”
Stashing my phone in my purse, I put my hand on his forearm and try to infuse as much understanding into my voice as I can muster. “Look, he just has something for me to sign for the bank. He asked me to come over this week, but you know how crazy this first week of school has been.”
He nods and gives me a small smile as he weaves through Blackstone Falls toward my childhood home which my father has been living in after negotiating with the she-devil. I don’t know the terms and I don’t want to. I’ve let her calls go unanswered, choosing my happiness for once.
Because I’ve never been happier.
The first week of school has been a dream, the kids full of excited energy that has filled my heart with so much joy it nearly burst.
Cal and I have set up a standing lunch date three times a week when our schedules allow it, and I’ll most likely be hidden in my classroom on the other days.
“It looks like he has company,” Montana says as the house comes into view. “We can come back.”
“It’s probably a lawyer; I’ll be quick, I promise.” I kiss his cheek as soon as we’re stopped, unclipping my seatbelt and opening the door.
“Ellison, wait…” he says as he scrambles out of the truck after me. I’m already on the porch and about to tell him how ridiculous he’s being when the door swings open.
Montana curses under his breath as I stare open-mouthed at the woman before me. She’s my age with auburn waves and glasses that hide big brown eyes, the light making the gold flecks pop.
Eyes just like my father’s.
Just like mine.
“Ellison?” My father’s voice sounds like it’s coming through a tunnel, panic evident on his face as his gaze bounces between us.
“What in the actual fuck is going on?” I snap, my voice rising with each word.
“I’m just going to…” the woman says, but I shake my head and force her back inside the house, Montana hot on my heels as we pile into the entryway, the door closing behind us with an ominous click.
“Talk,” I snap at my father.
“We didn’t want you to find out like this,” he says, and the laugh that bursts from my chest is borderline hysterical.
“Tell me you’re dating her and I will?—”
“I’m your half sister,” she blurts out, surprising herself as much as me by the look on her face. “The results came back this week confirming it.”
The results came back this week confirming it.
The words run on a loop in my mind. How long has everyone known?
“Arden contacted me when I was still in Savannah. She’s the reporter I mentioned.”
My mouth opens and closes but no words come out.
Mentioned.
Yeah, he mentioned it all right—just left out a crucial piece of information, the bastard.
I have a sister.
