Page 76 of Kiss the Girl
“Yes, but those are two separate things. We do game nights with Brooke, and those are not dates.”
“But you make out?”
“Yes, but dating is for if you have long-term relationship plans. We don’t.”
“Why not? Is he ugly?”
“Like that’s the most important thing.”
“It’s not the least important thing,” she said, and it made me laugh.
“Fine. He’s not ugly. He’s very cute. But also very much staying here, and I’m not.” I’d been sitting on a secret since this morning, and the need to tell someone my news bubbled up. Tabitha used to be the person I told everything to until she’d made it clear I needed to give up my career to come back to Creekville because she wouldn’t. She’d made it seem like I was replaceable, and she wasn’t. She thanked me for running the store every time we talked, but it still bothered me that she hadn’t thought my job mattered.
Today…today I was missing her being my person. Maybe it was because I had a possible moving date on my calendar now, or maybe it was because she’d helped the football team with no notice, but I felt less resentment toward her than I had in ages. And I wanted to tellsomeonemy news, so I did.
“I got an offer from Boeing this morning,” I said. “They want me to start in January.” That met with silence, and all the resentment flooded back in. “You’re supposed to say congratulations.”
“Congratulations,” she said dutifully. “But what about the store?”
“Dad’s fine. Getting stronger every week.”
“That’s not what Mom says.”
“That’s because Mom is a worrier. I hear all the same reports she does, and the oncologist is optimistic. Dad said the doctor even grinned, actually.” I imagined oncologists didn’t have many chances to do that in their work.
“But being cancer-free doesn’t necessarily equate to being ready to take back over the business.”
I took a deep breath. “I’m trying hard not to get offended, Tab. But I’m the one who’s here every day. I see what’s going on. I work with him more than even Mom does. I know what it takes to run the store, and I’m a better judge than you are.”
“But…”
“But what?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“Could your opinion be colored by the fact that you want to get out of Creekville?”
“After I’ve given up everything to be here and take care of him and the store, you think I’d take off before he’s ready?” This micromanaging had made her an executive producer of her own show and the youngest host on her network. But I hated it when she cast me as the know-nothing little sister. I’d never been flighty, and I didn’t deserve this. “When you’ve put in the time and done your share, maybe then you’ll have some standing to make those judgments, but you haven’t. So don’t.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “You think I’ve done nothing through all of this?”
“Trust me, you haven’t lived until you’ve cleaned out his vomit basin at two in the morning while Mom cries.”
“I did what I could.” Her voice was tight.
“Yeah, I’m sure your phone calls pulled him through.” It was mean, but so was her refusal to acknowledge how much I’d sacrificed to be here. I wouldn’t have traded my last sixteen months here for anything. But I’d still like a freaking acknowledgment.
“You want to know why I’ve been busting my butt this whole time to make sure my cookbook launches well? His medical bills.”
I wrinkled my forehead. “What?”
“Grace, who do you think has been paying all the medical bills?”
I’d assumed my parents were. “Dad never said anything.”
“Because he doesn’t know! He would hate it, and Mom and I thought the stress would be bad for his recovery. She tells him that her insurance through her real estate office covers it, but she doesn’t even get insurance through them.”
Guilt gnawed on my insides. “I didn’t know.”
“The bills are huge. And you know how I can afford that? Booking myself onto so many shows and appearances that I earned a cookbook deal with a big enough advance to cover the chemo. And you know how I’ll keep paying for it? Making the bestseller list.”
