Page 75 of Breadwinner

Kelly put her plate into the microwave, pushed a few buttons, then hit start.

“So, this thing with Jamie is, uh, serious?” Kelly asked. She hoisted herself up to sit on the edge of the counter.

“She’s happy, Kel,” Sarah warned.

“Are you happy?”

She glared at her sister, knowing exactly what she was getting at.

“You looked really happy in that picture with that goddess of a billionaire ‘friend’ of yours.” Kelly winked as the microwave beeped. “Please tell me you’re fucking her.”

“Kelly!”

“What!? I have eyes. She’s hot. If you’re not, I was going to ask you to introduce us.”

Kelly rummaged through the drawers looking for silverware. Sarah sighed, standing, opening the drawer to the right of the fridge and pulled out a fork and a knife and handed them over.

Kelly sat back down on one of the stools as Sarah began shutting the containers Kelly had left sprawled across the countertop, returning them to the fridge.

“Nell and?—”

“Oh, Nell! Of course she has a hot-ass name,” Kelly said, with a smirk. Sarah chose to ignore her.

“Nell and I are enjoying each other’s company,” Sarah said matter-of-factly. “But even if we weren’t, what makes you think you could entertain a second of her time?” she asked.

Kelly shrugged and took a large bite. “Dunno. Probably delusion on my end, but I do look adorable in Carhartt.” She swallowed her bite of food. “You know, if that’s her thing.”

“It’s not,” Sarah deadpanned. “Trust me.”

“On second thought, if she’s into you, she’d probably hate me.”

“Probably.” Sarah smiled, her hands splaying out across the cool granite surface of the counter.

“Is it serious with you two? That picture was from, what, September...”

“It’s not like that,” Sarah corrected. “Well, not really.”

“Are you each seeing anyone else right now?”

Sarah shook her head no. She wasn’t, at least, and she didn’t think Nell was, but she didn’t know for sure. That thought made her a little uncomfortable.

“I don’t really know what to call it. Nell and I...” She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “We don’t talk about what it is, but it’s been six months, and... I don’t know. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. She surprises me.”

“You like her,” Kelly sang.

“Shut up.”

A notification buzzed on Sarah’s phone. She glanced down at a group text from Nate and Nell.

Nate 12:53 AM

Proof that Nell had fun today. xoxo The StanGrants

Attached were three photos of Nell at Disney World—one of her and Nate in matching custom T-shirts with large bold letters reading “StanGrant Family Christmas” as they stood in front of Cinderella’s castle, arms wrapped around each other; another of Nell with a view of Tomorrowland behind her, her long, dark hair whipping around, caught in a breeze, Nell absolutely glowing in the golden-hour light; and the third was her in full Mickey ears, holding a churro in one hand and a giant turkey leg in the other.

Sarah smiled without thinking. Kelly caught it.

“I was right! You dolikeher.”