Page 128 of The Good Girl Effect

But I can’t change the past. I can’t bring Em back. I can’t unsay the things I said to Camille. All I can do is learn from my mistakes and keep going, one step at a time.

“Merry Christmas.”

I glance up from my desk, a half-written mess of a letter in my hands. Elizabeth is leaning against the doorframe with a small box in her hands.

“What is this?” I ask as she walks in and places it on the desk in front of me.

She shrugs. “Nothing. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”

Curious, I pick up the box. In the past month, since my sister and I have had a heart-to-heart and I’ve apologized for the way my behavior affected her after Em died, she’s been slowly warming up to the idea of having a relationship with me again.

She comes over more often now and even hangs out with Camille on Camille’s days off. It’s a far cry from the woman who wouldn’t even look in my direction four months ago.

“We can’t exchange gifts yet. I’m giving you your present on Christmas,” I say.

“Just open it,” she says with an eye roll.

“Fine,” I reply with a huff. Tearing open the package, I lift the lid of the box to find a snow globe filled with a glass palm tree, sand, and seashells. As I hold it, I glance up at her in confusion.

“Since you decided to stay in Paris for a while, I thought you might be homesick and could use a little something from California,” she says sheepishly. “Mom helped me pick it out.”

“Elizabeth…” I say, staring at the glass ornament. Flipping it over, I watch the sand fall back into place, and oddly enough, it does remind me of home. It creates a warm buzz in the center of my chest.

“If I could have had real American cheeseburgers delivered, I promise you I would have,” she says with a smirk.

My mouth starts to water at the mention. “I’d do some shady stuff for a few In-N-Out burgers,” I reply.

She nods her head emphatically. “Or that greasy place Dad used to take us by the harbor.”

“Oh God, yes,” I reply.

A moment later, we’re both smiling, and I can’t explain how amazing it is to reminisce with my sister again.

“Thank you for this,” I reply, not entirely referring to the snow globe. “Really.”

“You’re welcome,” she mutters without making eye contact. “And for what it’s worth, I’m really glad you’re staying.”

“Well, you’d never forgive me if I left you alone with Julian.”

She rolls her eyes. “You’re right about that.”

Just then, he passes by the office, sneering at both of us before lifting up his middle fingers on both hands. “I heard that. Fuck you both.”

Elizabeth and I cackle.

It’s dangerous to wish that everything could be falling into place, but with how well the club is doing and my sister talking to me again, I start to believe it just might be okay.

There’s just one more thing I have to do, and everything is riding on it.

Rule #44: You won’t know what’s inside until you open it.

Camille

Ihaven’t been sleeping well lately. I hear every sound, every creak in the floorboards and door closing somewhere in this large apartment.

More than once, I’ve gotten up in the middle of the night and opened my door in hopes of finding him standing in the hallway. But every time, the hallway is empty, and he’s still so far away.

Today is Christmas Eve. I’ve never dreaded a holiday more in my life. I’ve booked myself a ticket to go home to Giverny for two days. Bea should spend the holiday with her family, and I know that if I’m around, it will make it all hurt that much more.