“I’ve missed you so much, Edie.” Bianca wept. Bianca didn’t sob. She never sobbed, because sobbing might lead to snot and puffy eyes, and those things didn’t exist in Bianca’s world. She wept. Daintily. “I’m so glad we’re going to get the chance to talk.”
“I felt like we should,” Edie said, a hesitant smile on her face. “Come in.”
Bianca nodded, and Edie was surprised to see that her sister wasn’t wearing eye makeup. Normally Bianca didn’t leave the house without eyeliner and mascara. Had she skipped it because the tears were genuine? Or was this more manipulation? Edie looked over at Gretchen, who wrinkled her nose at the sight of Bianca.
“Gretchen’s here today,” Edie said, announcing the obvious.
“Howdy,” Gretchen called out from the sofa. “Wanna pet a kitten?”
“It’s all right,” Bianca said, sitting down on a nearby chair and glancing around at the penthouse. Edie was surprised at that, too. Bianca normally loved to nose around and mentally price out things. Instead, she turned sad eyes to Edie. “Your new place is lovely.”
“Yeah, isn’t it? I offered to pay for half the rent, but when Magnus told me how much it was a month, I told him it was all his,” she joked.
Bianca didn’t laugh. “He’s a good guy,” she said, twirling a lock of hair nervously around her finger. “You shouldn’t worry about him, you know. Not like Drake. I never told you, but Drake always hit on me when you weren’t around.” Her lower lip jutted out. “And I was a horrible person to sleep with him. I know that. I couldn’t tell you about it, not after your accident.”
“When is there ever a right time to tell your sister that you fucked her boyfriend?” Gretchen added sweetly.
Good point.
“But I always regretted it,” Bianca said. “I guess I was just looking for my own sort of purpose. And thinking only about myself, if I’m honest. I dumped him once your accident happened, and I turned you into my purpose. I devoted my life to taking care of you.”
“To making me need you,” Edie corrected.
“Bam!” Gretchen whispered. “Good one.”
Bianca glared at Gretchen, and then turned a hurt expression to Edie. “Maybe I did. Maybe I thought if I made you love me enough, it wouldn’t matter that I was a horrible person. I fucked up. I admit that. I’m not trying to pass the buck or make light of it. I totally screwed up and I’ve spent the last six years trying to make up for it in my own way.”
Edie wavered a little. She did have a point. How long was she going to punish her sister for that? She wasn’t ready to forgive just yet, of course, but it wasn’t off the table.
“I tested Magnus for you, by the way,” Bianca said.
“You what?” Edie crossed her arms over her chest. “What do you mean, you tested him?”
“I didn’t want you to get hurt by another guy the way Drake hurt you. So I tested him. I Skyped him and flirted with him,” she admitted baldly. “He shut me down completely. He didn’t even want to think about what I was suggesting.”
Gretchen’s mouth hung open.
Edie’s did, too.
“So I just wanted to get that out in the open,” Bianca said.
“Gee, thanks,” Edie said sarcastically.
“Can we be sisters and best friends again?” Bianca asked her, eyes big and sad. “I’ve missed you. You’re the only sister I have.”
“We’re always sisters,” Edie told her. “And I’ll always love you. I will. But I’m still pissed at you, Bianca. It’s going to take a lot longer than a month or two for me not to be pissed at you.”
“But I’m trying really hard.”
“Try harder,” Edie said. “Try and not hit on my fucking boyfriend, for starters.”
“Bam,” Gretchen whispered again.
“I was trying to be helpful—”
“Maybe we can skip you being so helpful and just go back to you being my sister, Bianca? How about that?”
She gave a little toss of her hair. “Fine. Just don’t shut me out again, okay?” Her eyes watered and she swiped at them. Genuine tears again. Wow. Bianca must really be upset.
That decided Edie. She could soften a little. “I won’t shut you out. But you need to give me space, too.”
“And stay the fuck out of her relationship,” Gretchen added.
“That, too,” Edie said.
“Fair enough.” Bianca smiled at her sister. “So tell me about the cat cafés.”
She knew how to get on Edie’s good side too easily, Edie grumped to herself an hour later. Bianca had gotten her talking and by the time she finally stopped going on and on about how wonderful Coffee N’ Cats was, an hour had passed and she hadn’t wanted to strangle her sister once. It was a start. But when Bianca started to turn the conversation toward herself, Edie shut her down.
“You should probably go,” Edie announced. “I’ve had enough sisterly love for one day.”
Bianca looked startled, then shrugged. “That’s fine. I thought while I was on this side of town, I’d stop by and see my sweet Cooper.” She got up, tossed her hair, and then pulled Edie into a hug. “I’m so glad we’re talking again. Please don’t hate me forever.”
She gave her sister an awkward pat on the back. “Me, too.”
Gretchen made gagging noises.
“But distance,” Edie quickly added. “We’re going to give each other distance.”
“Distance,” Bianca agreed, releasing Edie and heading for the door. “I’ll call you in a few days, then. Bye, Sis!”
Gretchen looked thoughtful as Bianca left the room. “So she sunk her claws into Cooper? That poor, poor man. He’s been snagged by the subtlest of gold diggers, and is probably happy as a lark about it.”
“Should we warn him?” Edie asked.
“Nah. He needs to get laid.” Gretchen tilted her head and glanced at Edie. “Speaking of groomsmen and such . . . Levi dropped out of the wedding, you know. Said it was harshing his free spirit. I think he’s still sulking over Bianca dumping him. He told Hunter he was going to vacation in Europe for a few months and to pick someone else.”
“Oh, no.” Edie frowned. “Are you short a groomsman? I feel like we’re responsible.”
“Don’t worry,” Gretchen said. “Among Hunter’s band of merry men, I’m sure someone has a younger brother somewhere.” She winked. “This is still going to be the most spectacular—or spectacularly awful—wedding of the year. Just you wait.”
Edie believed it. Gretchen never did things halfway. “Well, I’m sorry if I hooked up with one of your groomsmen.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Gretchen told her. “You’re not the only one getting herself a little some-some from one of Hunter’s buddies. Didn’t you hear about the others?” At Edie’s shake of her head, Gretchen’s eyes widened. “Girl, have I got stories to tell you . . .”
Look out for the next sensuous book in
Jessica’s Billionaires and Bridesmaids series . . .
Coming soon from Headline Eternal.
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