Page 14 of Dead to Me
The laughter in the room faded. China froze next to me. Malcolm’s smile disappeared. Sierra kept talking.
“I mean, imagine knowing your soulmate all those years and not realizing.”
“Sierra.”
China’s voice was sharp. Sierra blinked.
“What?”
“Drink some water.”
A few people laughed, and then the moment was over. I turned to China, but she wouldn’t look at me. Malcolm stared straight ahead. Known China forever, played over in my head. But Malcolm always said he could barely stand my sister when we were together. He used to complain whenever she showed up without warning. He called her spoiled, dramatic, even exhausting. Told me I needed to set boundaries.
Your sister thinks everything you have belongs to her.
His exact words.
I glanced at the diamond on China’s finger. Maybe Malcolm had been right.
When the main course arrived, no one at our table spoke for a while. After a few minutes, I leaned toward China.
“How long have you known Malcolm? Well, been dating Malcolm.”
She kept cutting her chicken.
“You know how long.”
“No, apparently I don’t.”
Her fork stopped.
“Milan.”
“I thought he met you when we started dating.”
“He did.”
“Then what did Sierra mean?”
“She’s drunk.”
“Drunk man tells no tales.”
Malcolm looked at me.
“Not here.”
I turned toward him.
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
China placed her fork down.
“Can we please not do this tonight?”
“Do what?”
Her voice dropped.
