Beg You to Trust Me (Lindon U #2)(55)

I’ll admit, I feel bad for her. She’s had that job for years—she even worked through college to build up to the manager position and whatever was above that after time in the hot seat. “I’m sure you can get something better. Like you said, you have a business degree. You can apply that sort of knowledge at way better places. Who needs Nordstrom.”

Serena sighs as she studies the menu we’re driving up to. “I’m going to miss your discount, though.”

“It’s about integrity, Skylar,” Sienna informs me bitterly, ignoring our other sister’s remark. “I spent a long time at that store, and they booted me like I was just another employee.”

“I mean, you were—”

“Rena,” both Sienna and I say at the same time. My tone is more scolding than Sienna’s bitter one, but our sister holds her hands up all the same in surrender.

“Fine, let’s drop it” she grumbles. She looks back at me and smiles. “I really want to ask you for all the tea that you won’t want to spill when Mom and Dad are around, but if you’re not feeling well…”

It’s Sienna who laughs. “Like that’s ever stopped you before.” Her eyes move toward the rearview where they lock with mine. Unlike Serena, hers aren’t painted with nearly as much makeup. Between the twins, Si’s style is a little more like mine—less flashy, but still stylish. Professional and chic. “What’s the gossip, Sky Sister? Any cute boys? Girls? Professors?”

Fighting the frown that always comes when my sisters hound me over these things, I shake my head. There’s a lot I plan on keeping to myself during this trip—maybe forever—and the few months I’ve been in college take up most of that territory. “Nothing you’d be interested in hearing.”

They both frown at that. “You’ve got nothing? What about that roommate you don’t like. And don’t pretend you do. We can all read between the lines whenever we ask.”

My brows pinch. I haven’t divulged much about Rebecca to my family, but I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me that they’ve caught on to my struggle with her. They’ve always been good at detecting stuff like that. “There’s not much to say. Her and I are opposites, so it’s hard to get along.”

The girls share a look before Rena shakes her head and glances back at me. “That’s no excuse. We’re all opposites but we get along.”

Sienna murmurs, “Most of the time.”

Serena shrugs, relenting. “Fifty-fifty, but we’re siblings. We’re supposed to get on each other’s nerves. What makes you and her so different? It’s been a few months, there has to be some common ground between the two of you by now.”

I think back to the few TV shows we both enjoy, but that’s about it. Even when I bring those up, she sounds pained to have the conversation. It doesn’t seem to matter what I do because Becca finds a problem with it.

If I wear the same clothes too often, she rolls her eyes. If I tell her I don’t want to go to the gym with her and the girls, she’ll make a comment about me gaining “more” weight before the year ends. If I mention not wanting to go out, she’ll call me a social recluse and hound me about being a college reject.

We eat differently, listen to different music, and have different tastes in guys. Trying to be her friend has become pointless.

Exhausting.

Because real friends don’t need to try so hard to gain acceptance. It isn’t about impressing them. It’s about letting them see who you are to begin with.

Sinking into my seat, I cross my legs under me and stare out the window to avoid my sister’s curious gaze. “I’ve tried, Rena. Honest. I went out with all of the girls, agreed to do things she and the others like to do. But for me? They never meet me halfway. Don’t get me started on the comments they make.”

“The comments?” both girls repeat.

I wince. “Just silly stuff.” Judgmental is more like it, but Serena is starting to get that look on her face that probably matches what Sienna looked like when she found out her coworker got the promotion she was working so hard for. “It doesn’t matter. We’re never going to be friends.”

“Maybe that’s why you haven’t been feeling well,” Sienna says from in front of me. “I know Mom mentioned you were getting a lot more headaches recently and you look kind of pale. It’s probably stress wearing you down. Being in that kind of environment isn’t healthy.”

Serena studies our sister. “Have you been reading from my psych textbook again?”

“As if,” Sienna muses, shooting her an exasperated look. “It was bad enough having to take that intro course with you when you begged me to, so you had someone to talk to. It was boring. If I’m going to free read something, it’ll be one of Sky’s smutty novels that she left behind.”

My cheeks heat. “They’re not that smutty. And hands off my books. You bend the pages and stain them.”

“Like that shirt I let you borrow?” she asks, glaring at me from the rearview mirror.

I groan at the memory she won’t let go of after all this time. “I was thirteen! When are you going to let that go?”

“Never.”

Her dramatics make me want to roll my eyes. I rest my head back again as Sienna rolls up to order. I zone out since she already knows what we all get, closing my eyes and enjoying the AC blasting through the vents. It’s nice to have the sun beaming down on my face and the air to contrast it. Si’s right. I haven’t been feeling well. Between lack of sleep from the night terrors and stress from trying to bring up my grades, I’ve been drained. Add in Becca’s mood swings, and it’s a recipe for disaster.