He Started It(56)

“What the hell?” he said.

I shrugged.

“Stop it.”

Obviously I did it again.

Eddie readjusted, making sure none of his limbs were reachable by my foot. I felt like I had won.

Now, as I sit behind the driver’s seat, his left arm is visible. Maybe even reachable.

More than that, I still want to kick him.

Back then, it was because I hated him. I knew that. Now I know my hate was just jealousy, and I also know I feel it toward all my siblings. Every one of them ended up with some special skill. A superpower.

Eddie and his charming ways, Portia and her ability to steal. Nikki, who got away with everything, even disappearing. What did I get, other than similar DNA? I can fade into the background. Let others have the spotlight.

Every family needs a dull bulb. Not everyone can be as bright as the sun. I’ve known for a long time that I’m not smart enough or charming enough to get all the attention. It’s always worked for me, or I’ve made it work, but that doesn’t mean I like it. Sometimes it makes me angry.

Right now, it makes me want to kick Eddie just like I did before.

I stare at his arm, at the seat, at the road in front of us. How stupid would it be to kick his arm while he’s driving? What are the odds we’ll get into an accident? And if we do, what are the odds we’ll survive?

This is what I think about during our nine-hour drive.

“Beth.”

Felix’s voice snaps me back, making me want to kick him instead. “What?”

“Did you read your e-mail today? Your work e-mail?”

“No.”

He hands me his phone, pointing to the screen. A company-wide memo was sent out this morning about a downsizing plan to reduce our staff by 15 percent. The first cuts were made today. I read down the list, not recognizing most of the names, but then I get to Linda McCormack. My supervisor. Next I see Danielle Bertram, one of my coworkers, followed by Adam Perry, our administrative assistant.

They’re making cuts in my department.

Perfect. Felix is going to lose his job because he started smoking, and now my department is getting cut to shreds—and this is just the first round of layoffs.

It’s a good thing I have an inheritance coming.

I can’t help thinking about Eddie’s night in jail, and once again, I wonder if that will disqualify him for his share.

Of course that means someone would have to let the lawyer know about it.


Are you okay?



Felix has texted me the same question several times, and each time I answer the same way:


Yes, we’ll talk later.


Are you sure you’re okay?


Yes, we’ll talk later.



He squirms around in the front passenger’s seat, turning to look at me so many times I finally put on my headphones and pretend to go to sleep. I don’t even have music on. Just in case Felix opens his big mouth, I want to hear it.

Because the drive is so long, our lunch stop is short. It takes place at an exit filled with multiple gas stations and fast-food restaurants, all within a one-block radius.

“Twenty minutes,” Eddie says. “Get whatever you need and meet me back at this gas station.”

Portia takes the opportunity to load up on alcohol while Eddie pays for the gas. They’re alone together in the convenience store, and this is what I’m thinking about when Felix asks me about the downsizing.

“Don’t tell them,” I say to Felix. “It’s none of their business what’s happening at work.”

“Understood.”

“Did your department get cut?”

“One person so far.”

I nod. He’s right. We have no idea what’s coming next, and we aren’t at the office to hear the gossip.

“I’ll check in with Sandra,” I say. She’s my closest friend at work, and the only one I’d talk to about this.

“We’ll be okay,” Felix says. He doesn’t mention the inheritance, but I know he’s thinking about it. That kind of pisses me off, given his new smoking habit. I now think of the inheritance as mine, not ours.

Strange what money can do.

He pretends to go find the restroom when he’s really going to smoke. I walk across the street to Arby’s and load up on roast beef sandwiches. We’re going to need more than alcohol and tobacco to get through the rest of this drive.

While standing in line, I look out the window and see Eddie come out of the convenience store. Even from across the street, he is a good-looking man. I don’t how I got a brother who looks more like a model than a regular guy, but I did. Not that our parents were ugly, but neither was as good-looking as Eddie.

He’s talking on his phone, gesturing with one hand like the other person can see him. He paces along the length of the car, alternating between talking and listening. Someone is making him agitated.

Portia comes out of the store next. She isn’t classically good-looking like Eddie, but she does have long legs, short shorts, and boots. That’s enough to turn the head of every man at the gas station.

She’s carrying two bags from the store, one obviously with bottles in it, and she already has a cup in her hand. Maybe they serve mixed drinks at the convenience store. It wouldn’t surprise me in Montana.

“Ma’am.”