Page 40 of The Hardest Hit

“I’ve seen your closet. You have four shirts.”

“I purged when I moved, and I hate shirt shopping. My boobs pop out of everything and nothing fits and then I get mad and throw hangers and the clerks don’t appreciate that.”

“We’ll get you dresses that keep your boobs in.”

“That’s harder than it sounds.”

“We’ll make it happen. And then we’ll come home and I’ll make it un-happen.”

Olivia laughed. “I feel like I shouldn’t, but it does make sense. I’ll buy you a Gen-Tech polar fleece to wear to my party.”

“Please don’t,” he said firmly. “And I mean that really, really a lot.”

“No, it’s only fair,” said Olivia. “I’ll get you one of the ones in bright green.”

“Oh, God.”

Olivia laughed. Her phone rang and she saw it was her sister. She bit her lip. Sofia hadn’t called since the day she’d hung up on Olivia. Reluctantly, she picked up the phone.

“Hey, Sofs,” she said, putting on a false note of cheer.

“Hello, Olivia,” said Sofia, sounding stiff and formal.

“What’s up?” she asked. “How’s your Tuesday going?”

“You know how it’s going,” said Sofia.

“Nope. I really don’t. You could be doing anything.”

“I am at our grandparent’s house,” said Sofia. “And you haven’t called.”

Olivia was silent, realizing between one breath and the next why Sofia was calling.

“No, I haven’t,” agreed Olivia.

“Have you forgotten what the date is?”

“I am very aware of the date,” said Olivia, trying to ignore the fact that Evan was watching her.

“Then why haven’t you called?”

“Why haven’t they called me? Why should I comfort them?”

“They lost their daughter!” snapped Sofia.

“And their needs come first? Always? What about Dad? What about us?”

“You’re being a bitch,” said Sofia, lowering her voice on the B-word.

Olivia thought about that. “Possibly,” she said. “Or maybe I’m just tired of being told how to feel. Maybe that is being bitchy. I can’t postulate a theory on that right now.”

“And you’re just going to go off and leave us and be happy out in there in the city by yourself?” demanded Sofia.

“At the moment, yes, I’m very happy, but no, I’m not by myself. So if you don’t mind, I have to get back to my date.”

“Pops is right,” said Sofia. “You are a harlot.”

“Fuck you, Sofia,” said Olivia and hung up the phone.