Page 15 of Forever Lies
At different stages in our lives, I’d been jealous of my little sister, but no longer found myself ensnared in that pitfall. With age had come the maturity to understand that nobody’s life was perfect, even if it appeared that way. I kept my issues to myself, and she no doubt did the same. Who was I to say her problems were any less than mine?
“Hey, Sof! Nothing’s up, just wanted to see how you were doing.”
“Ugh, I’ve still got one more final to go,” she groaned.
“You excited to be done?”
“Yes and no—when I’m done with school, I have to moveback home for a few weeks until my new apartment is ready.”
“Can’t say I envy you.”
“Yeah, and if that isn’t bad enough, I have to suffer through my graduation party. I keep telling Mom I don’t need a party.”
“Good luck with that,” I laughed in response, knowing Mom would never cancel at this rate. “How are the job prospects going?”
She paused with indecision. “Actually, I got a job in a small gallery on the lower east side.”
“Sof, that’s great news! Have you told Mom and Dad?”
“No, although, I suppose I’ll have to at some point,” she grumbled.
“Why don’t you want to tell them?”
“I just don’t see a reason for them to know every aspect of my life.”
“You and Maria are so freaking secretive.”
“Hold up—don’t go comparing me to Maria. We are nothing alike—it’s not even apples and oranges. She and I are like apples and bicycles.”
It seems I’d struck a chord. Sofia was almost always even-keel, but I’d clearly ruffled her feathers. “Okay, my bad. Maria definitely takes secrecy to a whole other level—I didn’t mean to offend.”
I heard a sigh drift over the line. “Sorry, I’m just stressed and exhausted.”
“No problem—we’re all just doing the best we can. I suppose I can relate a little. I haven’t told Mom and Dad, but I met someone,” I offered quietly, not wanting anyone in the office to overhear.
“Oh, yeah? Tell me about him!”
“There’s nothing to tell, yet—I just started dating him.”
“But?” she prompted with the word I’d left unspoken, too scared to admit the intensity of my feelings.
“But there’s something about him; he’s not like the other guys I’ve dated.” I was trying to share with my sister, but there was only so far I was willing to open up. There was something mysterious and intriguing about Luca that I wasn’t ready to share with anyone else.
“You going to bring him to dinner on Sunday?” she asked coyly.
“Hell no! Are you crazy?”
“Come on, Lessi, that would take the spotlight off me,” she pouted playfully.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, little sis. That spotlight is all yours.”
“Fine, be that way,” she pouted.
“I will, thanks. You get back to studying. I’ll see you on Sunday,” I said the last part in a sing-song voice.
“You better. I don’t want to face the inquisition alone,” she muttered.
“Never. I shall be your faithful protector.”
