The Game That Breaks Us (Us 3)

I nod. “Born and raised in the town over from the university.”

She nods. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“A sister,” I answer. “Sabrina. Speaking of,” I stand, “I better call her back. She’s been blowing up my phone all day.”

“Oh, of course.” Olivia waves me off. “Family comes first.”

“Thanks.” I smile at her and excuse myself from the room. I head upstairs and close the door to the guestroom. I sit on the end of the bed and call back Sabrina, praying to God that it’s nothing bad.

She answers with a clipped, “Hello?”

“Hey, you called?” Like fifty times.

“Mom said you won’t be home for Christmas and New Year’s.”

“That’s right.”

“Why?” she whines. “We always have Christmas as a family.”

I’m sure my mom told her that I’m with Grace for the holidays, but I play into her. “I’m with my girlfriend and her family.” I pinch the bridge of my nose.

“Your girlfriend,” she repeats. “You’re spending the holidays with her family and we’ve never even met her. It’s not like we live far away, Bennett. We could’ve had a family dinner and we could’ve met her then.”

I sigh. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“That you’re a stupid fuck and you’ll introduce her to us when you get back.”

“I’ll introduce you to her when we get back,” I repeat.

She tsks. “You forgot the first part little brother.”

She says little brother like it’s meant to be an insult. I’d tell her to be more creative but I don’t want to argue with her. “Uh-huh, I’m a stupid fuck, Bina. We know this.”

She laughs. “Thanks. I’m going to miss you,” she says in a sad tone. “I think we’ve spent almost every Christmas together.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry I won’t be there to help you burn those monstrosity of a pair of pajamas mom gets us every year.”

Sabrina laughs and I can tell it’s genuine. At least she’s feeling better about all of this. “She picks the ugliest ones on purpose, I swear.”

“What were they last year?”

“Leprechauns,” she giggles. “Not elves but leprechauns. Those might’ve been the best yet.”

“I don’t know,” I hedge. “The year with narwhals was pretty epic.”

“Ooh,” she cries, and I can hear her smack her hand against something. “What about the year with the unicorn that was shitting rainbows—but the rainbow was green and red for Christmas?”

I snort. “Those were good too.”

Sabrina grows quiet on the line. “I’m worried about you, Bennett.”

“Why, Bina? I’m good.”

“You’re such a shitty liar. Seriously, the worst.”

I chuckle. “Nah, it’s just because you’re a reporter. You see through everyone’s bullshit.”

“Damn straight.” She laughs but it sounds forced this time. “I know I tell you all the time, but seriously, Bennett, if you ever need to talk about things I’m here.”