Page 140 of Should the Sky Fall

“No, the other one,” probably-Olivia snaps. “Jesus.”

She’s clearly not happy, and Cal doesn’t really feel like inviting her in, especially since Dawson isn’t here, but he can’t possibly let her wait outside. “I’m opening the door for you.”

“Fucking finally,” he hears, accompanied by the sound of the door buzzing. It can’t be more than a minute before there’s a sharp knock on the door. Cal, who’s been rooted to the spot since he opened the main entrance, reaches for the doorknob, bracing himself.

He’s seen Olivia in the pictures, but seeing her in person makes it clear that she and Dawson are siblings. The same hair-color, same facial features—though Dawson’s cheekbones are a little more pronounced and his lips just a tad fuller. Even their eye color is the same, but where Dawson’s eyes are soft and kind, Olivia’s have daggers in them. And they’re pointing at Cal.

Cal opens his mouth for a proper greeting—and an introduction, despite Olivia knowing who he is, but he doesn’t get far. Olivia shoulders her way past him, looking around the apartment frantically. It reminds Cal of one of the movies he and Dawson watched, where the main character stormed into her boyfriend’s apartment, certain he was having an affair.

Olivia whirls around, eyeing Cal like she’s about to obliterate him. It takes all of Cal’s willpower to ignore his self-preservation instinct and not take a step back.

Then her gaze falls on Donut sitting quietly at Cal’s side. Her jaw slackens. “What’sthat?”

Donut whines, and Cal bends down to pet him. “That’s Donut. He’s a rescue.”

Olivia gapes at him. “You have a dog?”

“…Yes?”

Olivia’s confused expression transforms into a hard mask. “Where is Dawson? Why is he not picking up?”

“He went out to the movies with Kieran.” Figuring he should make nice with his sister-in-law, he forces a strained smile and offers a hand for a shake. “Hi. Nice to meet you.”

Olivia’s eyes narrow dangerously, then stare at the offered hand like it’s a weapon. When she lifts her gaze, it’s not as venomous anymore, but not kind either.

“You really got everything knocked out of you, huh.” It sounds like a statement rather than a question, but he doesn’t want to stay uncomfortable in silence.

“I guess so?”

Olivia watches him, her gaze never wavering. “When’s Dawson gonna be back?”

“I don’t know for sure. He didn’t mention if he has plans after the movie. Would you like to wait for him?” Dawson won’t mind, right? This is his sister after all, and Cal knows he misses her.

“Do I have a choice?” Olivia complains, like it’s Cal’s fault Dawson’s not here, or picking up her calls.

“Well…” Cal starts, wanting to point out she’s welcome to leave, but a sharp look from her changes his mind. “Would you like anything to drink?”

Olivia lets out a derisive snort. “Like the whiskey from your stash? No, thanks.”

Cal winces. It’s so strange to hear people talk about his addiction when he hasn’t felt the urge to pick up a drink since the accident. But he also knows he can’t argue with them. After all, it was the reason why he ended up in the car crash and with his memory wiped clean in the first place.

“I don’t drink alcohol,” he says simply, keeping his voice even. He walks over to the fridge, opening it. “I have water, orange juice… Dawson’s kombucha.” Dawson is very protective of it, but Cal’d rather receive a stink eye from him than experience any more of Olivia’s wrath. “But I don’t think he’d mind if you had some.”

Olivia’s silent at first, then she sighs. “Juice.” When Cal reaches for the bottle and goes to pour her a glass, she stalks forward and all but rips it from his hands. “I can get it myself.”

Cal holds his hands up in peace. “Glasses are—” Olivia’s already pulling open the cabinets. “Over there.” He stays silent, watching Olivia fill the glass and leave the opened bottle of juice on the counter. She leans against it, watching Cal over the rim as she drinks.

Cal’s palms sweat, an uneasy feeling spreading in his stomach. “You don’t like me, do you?”

She raises an eyebrow. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

Cal doesn’t react to the jab, though it stings a little. He doesn’t know Olivia, but she’s Dawson’s family. He hoped they could be friends, just like he wanted to be friends with Kieran, because he’s important to Dawson. He wonders what he did to warrant such disdain from so many people Dawson cares about. Is the drinking the main reason? Part of him doesn’t want to know, but…he’d just like an opportunity to make it better.

Olivia’s eyes roam around the kitchen, judgment clear in her gaze. Cal didn’t like it either when he first came here from the hospital, but he and Dawson have made so many beautiful memories here since then. It’s different now.

Olivia pauses with her glass halfway to her lips, her gaze setting on something in front of her. She stalks towards the island and grabs the framed photo of Cal and Dawson from the day they were making pizzas, flour in their hair and on their faces, both of them grinning at the camera.

She looks at the photo, then at Cal. “When was this taken?”