The saleswoman returned to the room with her sewing kit, smiling broadly.
“Miss Turner, please return to the riser. I’ll take your measurements again so I can fix the zipper situation.”
Trinity did as she was told. I felt Gabriella’s eyes lingering on me, narrowed and menacing, and pretended to study a bridal article about skid marks on wedding gowns.
“By the way…” Trinity raised her blonde braid up so the woman could press the measuring tape to her waist. “Any news from Rob?”
“He was waiting for us outside when we came home from the cruise. Bear was upset about it. I spoke to him afterwards, and he doesn’t really seem ready to give Rob a chance.”
“It’s not his choice, though, is it?” Mom patted a piece of used tissue to her nose. “He’s just a kid. He should do whatever you tell him to do. And you should tell him Rob is his father and he needs to suck it up.”
That grabbed my attention.
I pinned her with a look of disdain.
“Excuse me? Are you expecting me to throw the trust and bond I have with my son out the window to appease and abide by the whims of a man who, until less than a month ago, pretended we weren’t in existence? Crew that.” I left the S out intentionally.
“I expect you to do the sensible thing and let him help you out.” Mom squared her shoulders, a haughty look on her face.
“We did fine before him. Bear’ll meet him when he’s ready, and not a moment earlier.”
“You’re being stubborn,” my mother stated.
You’re being judgmental.
Her lips pressed into a tighter line. “Take the money.”
Take your nose out of my business.
But I couldn’t say that.
I didn’t have the balls.
“Listen, Nessy, I honestly think he’s a changed man. I mean, he is trying really hard. Got a job with his old man and everything,” Trinity cooed, still staring at herself in the mirror. “Wyatt told me he came to visit the Costellos last night. They had a big dinner and all. Cruz and Wyatt were there, too.”
“Yeah. Cruz told me. We talked about it,” Gabriella automatically said, making it known that she and Cruz were speaking.
Just piss on his leg, honey, why don’t you?
What bothered me more than my mother telling me to rush Bear into meeting Robert was the fact that Cruz seemed to become his buddy again right away. I felt so stupid for tumbling into bed with Cruz.
The two were probably comparing notes about me yesterday over beers.
“Look, I’m not saying Rob can’t see Bear or can’t live in this town. All I’m saying is that we’re taking it one day at a time and getting used to having him around again. That’s all.”
After Trinity had her measurements retaken, the three of us poured out of the store into the bright summer day. Gabriella air-kissed my sister on both cheeks and hugged my mother.
Mom laced her arm in Trinity’s and was about to guide her back to their car. Trinity put her hand on Mom’s elbow.
“Mom, get the car, will you? I have to talk to Nessy for a sec.”
Uh oh.
This couldn’t be good. Whenever my sister wanted to get me alone, it was because she wanted to chide me. More often than not, because of my manners and reputation. Last time that happened, she tried to force me to apologize to Tim Trapp for not going out with him.
I stood next to her like a punished child, awaiting the verdict after giving the dog a makeover.
When Mom was out of earshot, Trinity turned to me, a polite smile on her face. Like we weren’t two sisters with an unbreakable bond but strangers who’d happened to occupy the same house for twenty-three years before I moved out.
“Nessy, you know how much I love you.”
“I sense a but coming my way.” I folded my arms, already on the defense.
Trinity heaved a sigh, playing with the clasp of the Gucci tote Wyatt had bought her for Christmas. “But I noticed you were kind of throwing yourself all over Cruz while we were on vacation. Honestly, it was a little embarrassing to watch. Gabriella is my best friend and my maid of honor. I know I have no right to ask this of you, but could you please try to…back off? For me? I just couldn’t stand to see you hurt when you’re rejected like that, you know?”
I wanted to throw my head back and laugh. Instead, I stared at her, deadly calm.
“I have not been throwing myself at Dr. Costello.”
“You have to promise me you won’t make things complicated. I love you so much…” Again, that gass-covering, the thing she said before something hurtful came out of her mouth. “But you’re Messy Nessy, and a lot of people in Fairhope are calling this the wedding of the year. People are seeing me for a change. Please don’t ruin it for me. Please. I finally think I’m getting somewhere with Catherine.”
I was glad I was so good at hiding my feelings, because every single part of me wanted to puke on her sensible shoes. Instead, I flashed her one of my infamous pouts, shrugging as I let her comments roll off of my back.
A few construction workers passed us by and whistled at me on their way to a sandwich shop.
“Howdy, Messy Nessy. Oh, how I’d like to take you for a spin.”
Trinity scrunched her nose, disgusted.
“Worry not, little sis. I’m staying the heck away from Mr. Fancy Pants. Gabriella can have him.” And because I was tired of being the harlot who couldn’t bag a man, I added, “Rob wants another chance. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll give it to him. For all his faults, he’s still pretty hot.”
“Oh, Nessy, I heard he’s still gorgeous! A friend of mine saw him at a steakhouse out of town and said he’s a real dreamboat. You should totally go for it.”
She looked so relieved, so happy to share a piece of gossip so normal between sisters yet foreign to us, for a moment, I was actually tempted to.
Okay, not, but still.
Trinity threw her arms around me, squeezing me into an excited hug.
“Think about the story. Robert Gussman came back after all these years and got his family back! That’s practically a fairytale.”
Robert Gussman never had his family in the first place, but now wasn’t the time to correct her.
“Yeah.” I smiled, patting her back. “That’s a nice story.”
“Just stay away from Cruz. We don’t need that kind of drama on our hands.”
“Sure don’t.”
My promise to stay away from Cruz Costello lasted for a little over twenty-eight minutes.
Twenty-seven and fifteen seconds, if I were counting, which clearly, I wasn’t.
Not my fault, seeing as I walked through the door—to my house, mind you—and there he was, perched on the couch next to Bear, both of them holding joysticks, staring at the TV, wide-eyed, shouting at each other both directions and profanity in decibels more suited for Madison Square Garden.
“Take him. Take. Him. You have enough dexterity. I got your back, dude. Just aim for the heart,” Bear practically growled, elbowing Cruz. “Do you know where the heart is?”
“Yeah, jackass, I’m a doctor.”
“Well, good thing Mom takes me to Dr. Finch outta town, because your degree says heart, but your aim says leg.”