“I know.” Billie smiled and shrugged. “But I also know that Logan only tolerates her because she’s my sister and because her need for attention is so pathetic it’s sad.”
Bobbi shrugged. “She’s not as pathetic as I am these days.”
“That’s true,” Billie said. “And she smells a hell of a lot better than you do.”
Annoyed, Bobbi threw a pillow at her sister and they both watched it land on the floor next to the antique grandfather clock.
“You can’t stay in here forever you know,” Billie said quietly. “You have to come out and play and you may as well get it over with. Come watch us play tonight. We’re heading to The Grill for beer and wings afterward. It’s not fancy but it will be better than sitting at home on a Friday night.”
Bobbi shook her head. No way. It was bad enough that everyone in town thought she’d fled her wedding and landed in the arms of New Waterford’s own bad boy, Shane Gallagher, but—
“Shane’s not playing tonight. He had plans or something if that’s what you’re worried about. I think Logan said he was out of town and wouldn’t be back until Sunday night.”
For a moment the heaviness inside her shifted and she was able to breathe a little better. She glanced at the empty cracker boxes on the sofa beside her, along with the empty water bottles and box of Kleenex. She moved an inch or so stretching tight muscles and well, Billie was right about the body odor thing, she needed a shower badly.
“I don’t…I don’t know,” she began and then fell silent. Did she even have the energy to go out of the house? Because that meant not only showering and dealing with her hair, it meant getting dressed in something other than pajamas and maybe throwing some makeup on and…
“Do you really want to spend Friday night with Gramps and Dad watching the Criminal Minds marathon? Really?”
Billie bent low and gave her a hug. “At least think about it. The game is probably asking a bit much, cuz I know how much you love hockey.”
Bobbi smiled at that. It was well known that she hated the sport. She was more of a football kind of girl.
“But come to The Grill. We’ll be there by ten at the latest. Okay?”
Bobbi knew her sister wouldn’t let up until she gave an answer. The answer Billie wanted to hear so she gave in. “I’ll try.”
Billie pulled back with a smile. “Okay, you coming for some chili?”
Bobbi’s stomach protested at the thought. “No, I think I’ll take my shower in a bit.”
“Good, I’ll text you when we get to The Grill, or do you want me to come back and get you?”
“No,” she shook her head. “I’ll meet you there.”
Bobbi watched Billie disappear and sank back into the blanket. Shit, for a moment she almost believed herself. But The Grill? No way. That sounded like way too much work and she wasn’t so sure that she was up to the questions and whispers and looks sure to come her way.
So, instead of getting her butt off the sofa and heading up to her bathroom, she sank further into the blanket, turned out the light on the table beside her and listened to the boisterous family gathering in the kitchen.
The voices melted into one and she must have dozed off because when Betty shook her, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
“What the hell?” Bobbi rubbed her eyes and glared at her sister…
Who stared down at her with a bemused look on her face. A masculine cough from somewhere in the hallway told Bobbi they weren’t alone and she tugged the blanket up to just under her chin and peeked around Betty.
Great.
She glared at her sister. “Matt Hawkins? Really?”
Betty shrugged. “It’s Friday night and this is New Waterford. The pickings are pretty slim.”
“Hey, I’m standing right here,” Matt said roughly.
Both girls ignored him.
Betty had a large leather bag slung over her shoulder. Dressed in indigo jeans, white knee-high boots and a matching white faux fur jacket, she looked like the model she was—or rather used to be. With her long dark hair and dramatically made up eyes, Betty Jo would turn heads tonight.
And probably get into trouble.