Shameless(72)

She winks and walks off before I can say anything.

Ugh. I hate people knowing my business, but I don’t have time to worry about it because my phone buzzes in my apron. It’s my sister.

“Tori, what’s wrong?” I say under my breath as I turn down the hall toward the bathrooms.

“Why do you always assume something’s wrong?”

“Because the only time you call me is in an emergency. Or if you need money.” Mentally, I start calculating how much I have in my bank account in case this phone call comes with a big price tag.

Tori attends a small Catholic school that’s expensive as hell, but she’s on an academic scholarship that covers her tuition. Except my family can’t afford what the scholarship doesn’t cover—books, supplies and uniforms—so I try to bridge the gap. As painful as it is to foot the bill sometimes, she’s safer there than at our nearby public school, which is overrun with gangs.

“Relax, Katherine. Mom wants to know if you’re coming home for Christmas. You know, since you blew us off for Thanksgiving.”

Pressing the bridge of my nose, I sigh. “I don’t know. Maybe I can drive down for a day or two.” Brady is working on my car today, so if it’s up and running, I might be able to head to Corpus.

Little butterflies ripple in my stomach when I think about how I woke up this morning with that beautiful art on my back. He drew a hummingbird fluttering out of a starburst. He said it’s because I remind him of the sunrise.

My stomach does a crazy flipflop when I think about how he rasped those words in my ear before I left for work.

“Hello?” Tori squawks on the phone.

“I’m here.”

“Are you sure?” Tori asks. “I’ve had to repeat myself three times. I said that Dad really wants you to come home. And just so you know, you should call Eric back already. He’s been blowing up our phone this last week.”

God, he just does not give it a rest.

“Do not give him my number, Tori. I’m serious.” If nothing else, my time with Brady has shown me how much I don’t want to be with Eric. Why is he still calling?

“Are you positive? He’s rich and really hot. Maybe you should give him another chance. Unless he has a little weenie. Does he have a little weenie?”

I nearly choke. “Victoria, I’m paying a shitload of money to help you attend that private school. Don’t they teach you any manners?”

“Whoa. Look who curses now, Little Miss Stick Up Her Ass.”

Seriously? All I’ve done is help my little sister, and this is the thanks I get?

“Whatever. I gotta go. But next time you need clothes or money for some dumb formal dance, don’t call me.”

“C’mon, Katherine, you know I’m joking. I’m sorry!”

I shake my head. Tori and I haven’t been close in a while. I’m seven years older, and I get a little irritated because she gets away with murder. My parents had me on a tight leash, and she gets to stay out to all hours because she looks angelic. But I know my parents are always comparing us. She’s not the student I was, so she gets the “why can’t you study harder like Katherine” speeches.

That’s what I loved about Mel. She was the big sister I should have had. Not that I don’t love Tori, but I just wish we could be close like Mel and I were.

When I get off the phone, I wish more than anything that I could talk to Mel about Brady. I wish I could pour out my heart to her because she would know what to do.



After spazzing out all day at the diner, I’m relieved to come home and find Brady just as warm and sweet as he was last night. Part of me was afraid that he’d be different after so much intimacy, but no. He’s affectionate, kissing me on the mouth when I walk through the door, hugging me once I tug off my coat.

He tells me he’s going to Skype with his parents. “Wish me luck.”

“You don’t need it.” Well, he might. I lean up and kiss his cheek. “Watch. It’ll be fine. They’ll be relieved.”

“God, I hope so.”

He strides down the hall, and I try to busy myself in cleaning the kitchen. After a quiet ten minutes, I hear laughter coming from the office, so I know the hard part must be over.

I’m about to check Izzy’s diaper when Brady calls my name. I pick her up, and when we peek into the office, he’s all smiles.

“My parents want to see the baby,” he says, motioning for me to come over. I walk over to hand her to him when he scoots a chair next to his.

Oh, God. I’m not even wearing makeup. Lovely.

I push up my glasses and sit in front of the screen.

“Izzy is getting so big!” his mom squeals when she sees the baby. His mother is a beautiful woman with light brown hair and big blue eyes. She looks so much like Cal, it’s almost painful. “Hi, baby!” she coos.

Izzy claps and says, “Hi, hi, hi,” and grins as I bounce her on my lap.

Then his mom notices me, and her smile widens.

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd.” I wave at them, hoping I don’t look as stupid as I feel right now. Maybe Brady could have given me a little warning that he wanted me to video conference with his parents.

“Well, aren’t you the prettiest thing! And please call me Rebecca,” his mom says. She nudges her husband. “Jonathan, isn’t Katherine beautiful?”