Page 98 of Elite Player
As if I’m a stranger.
Or worse, someone she doesn’t like.
After the service finishes and Granny’s casket is carried out, I take the keys to Jo’s rental car to drive in the procession to the burial site. Jo remains sadly stoic, never leaning into my embraces, no matter how many I offer. Back at Tonya’s house, where all the mourners gather to eat, Jo tucks away into a corner,leaving me to field the conversations when anyone approaches. I don’t mind, but it does make me worry a bit.
When I can’t take it any longer, I tug her up. “Let’s go outside. Get some fresh air.”
She doesn’t argue as I bundle her in her coat and lace our fingers together, but we’re stopped on our way to the backyard by Lizzie. She is as ugly on the inside as she is pretty on the outside, with her hair all curled and hand on her hip in what she probably assumes is an inviting pose.
She isnothingcompared to Josephine.
“There you are.” Lizzie’s gaze slowly journeys over the length of me. Like a snake eyeing its prey.
I remain cordial, hoping to avoid any drama. “Nice to see you again, Lizzie.”
“I was hoping you’d make it.”
Behind me, Jo makes an irritated sound, and I frown at Lizzie. “You were hoping your sister’s fiancé would make it to your great-grandmother’s funeral?”
“Yeah, you know…” She steps up close, too close. A bold move right in front of her sister, but then again, I suppose that’s her point. “Any chance I could get to know my future brother-in-law better,” she says with a pout to her lips that I guess she assumes would make me weak for her.
It does not.
Disgusts me, actually.
I tow Jo to my side. “Gotta tell you, Liz, I’m not super interested in getting to know you. Not when you’re hitting on me right in front of your sister. I’m not sure if it’s because you think you have a real shot with me or if you’re doing it to hurt her, but either way, it’s a pass from me. If at any point in the future you’d like to apologize to Jo, maybe then we could spend some quality time together—all three of us—but until then, I’m not interested in anything you’re offering.”
From Lizzie’s flabbergasted reaction, I’m assuming no one has dared put her in her place, and I’m glad to hold the title forit. Though at the moment, it’s not much of a consolation prize because Jo is still so upset.
Outside, she pulls away from me, hugging her arms around herself, eyes fixed on the frozen grass. I button my coat and flip up the collar, though the cold air feels nice after being in the warm house with all the people. And Lizzie.
“I know you’re upset, but it seems like there’s something else going on. Did something happen with your family?”
She rubs the back of her hand over her nose. “Something is always happening with my family.”
I close the physical distance between us, but I can’t do anything about the emotional distance. Not when she won’t even look at me. “Talk to me, mama. Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.” I chance a touch, curving my hands around her cheeks, her skin cool, nose pink from the cold, and I nudge her face up to mine with my thumbs under her chin. “Please. Let me in.”
Once again, she shrugs away from me, and I plow my fingers through my hair, frustrated. “I’ve got to leave early tomorrow morning, but I don’t want to if you’re still refusing to talk to me. To look at me. What the hell is going on? We promised we’d always be honest with each other, but you won’t even talk to me.”
She pivots away from me, bending her head, shoulders shaking, and I mutter a curse. “Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. I’m sorry.” I wrap her up, hugging her tight, whispering an apology over and over into her hair.
But when she finally speaks, I can’t understand her muffled response. “What?” I guide her head away from my shoulder. “What’d you say?”
She blinks, her wet eyelashes clumping, and I stroke the backs of my fingers across her red and damp cheeks. After licking her puffy yet dry lips, she asks, “Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Sorry.”
“Am I sorry? For what? Telling your sister off? No. Telling Waylon to back the fuck up? Also no. Being here with you? Absolutely not.”
She blows out a breath, and when she attempts to back away from me, I refuse to let go. I wrap my hands around her shoulders, keeping her in place. “But I’m sorry you’re crying. I’m sorry you had to say goodbye to Granny. I’m sorry I couldn’t be here earlier, and I’m sorry I can’t stay longer with you.”
She clenches her jaw, trying and failing not to cry. “But you’re not sorry about being out with another woman?”
I wrench back. “What?”
“Lizzie showed me pictures of you out in Edmonton with a woman, and it looked like…” She squeezes her eyes shut, shakes her head, barely audible when she says, “Like you were happy. Together.”
