Page 40 of Afterglow

“But will Leanne believe it?” I ask, imploring her to answer this question that haunts me. Because what if she doesn’t?

“You’ll show her, and she will.”

I just wish I could be as sure as she is.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Leanne

Evelyn

If you aren’t at Mom and Dad’s in thirty minutes, Jenna and I are going to show up at your door and drag you out in whatever you’re wearing.

Jenna

Eric says he’ll help.

Well, damn.

I look down at the ratty sweats and holey tee I’m wearing—that I’ve been wearing all day because it’s Sunday—and sigh.

I hoped my family’s silence after I told them I needed to finish up some work tonight meant I was off the hook for dinner. Given that I made the measly “work” excuse the last two weeks and was sick the Sunday before, it seems my family’s had enough.

I glance at the clock on the oven: 6:33 p.m. I guess I’d better get in the shower if I have any hope of looking halfway decent by seven. Thank goodness my parents’ house is only a mile up the road.

Me

I’ll be there

Evelyn

She lives! See you soon.

I roll my eyes and head for my room. This is going to be a long night.

“You’re here!” Jenna shouts as she bounds out the front door and down the steps to pull me into a hug.

“I told you I would be,” I say, winding my arms around her and fully sinking into the feel of her embrace. It’s been a long time since I went this long without seeing my sisters or my parents. And even though keeping my distance was my choice, I’ve missed them.

“Come on, let’s get inside. Eric just opened a three-hundred-dollar bottle of wine some associate gave him! We’re going to see if it tastes better than Mom’s Two Buck Chuck.”

I cringe. The first obstacle has already been laid and I’m not even in the door.

“You’ll have to tell me what you decide,” I say with as much nonchalance as I can manage. “I have a big convention starting tomorrow and don’t want to be hungover for it.”

She scoffs and pulls me closer as we walk up the steps. “You won’t get a hangover from one glass.” She bumps me with her hip and I shake my head, hoping my excuse will fly with the rest of the group. I’d rather not pour expensive wine into one of Mom’s houseplants if I can avoid it.

“Hey, Annie.” Mom beams and walks into the hall to greet us. She pulls me into her arms for a quick hug, then settles her hands on my shoulders to scan my face. I do everything in my power to keep my expression neutral. Mom will be the hardest to lie to. She was always able to ferret out when any of us girls did something we shouldn’t have when we were younger.

Of course, I’ve been lying to her for months now…

Dad walks up and wraps his arms around us both, effectively disrupting Mom’s attempt to x-ray me with her eyes. “Glad you could make it, Lee.” He plants a kiss on the top of my head. He’s the only one who calls me Lee, while the rest of the Koles either stick to Leanne or Annie. I’ve always liked it though. He and Mom were sure I was going to be a boy and had planned to name me Lee. They changed it to Leanne when I was born, but he never quite let go of the habit he developed over those nine months.

I wonder for the briefest moment what kind of nicknames this little one will have and almost reach to touch my stomach. Thankfully I think better of it before I give myself away in the first five minutes.

“Hey, Dad,” I say as I slip my coat off. I won’t be showing for a while yet, but I purposely dressed in such a way as to hide any invisible baby bump. My cozy sweater hangs off one shoulder and reaches mid-thigh over black leggings. I pulled my damp hair back into a low bun at the nape of my neck and added a touch of makeup before I left home, in a bid to cover the dark circles under my eyes.

Evelyn and Eric descend on me next and I’m glad for the reprieve from my parents’ scrutiny.