curse word!” Henley yelled.
I looked back and groaned.
Henley was at the fridge, organizing some of her drawings.
“Henley, can you play, please?” Elise asked.
“Why? So Aunt Emily can curse some more?” Henley asked.
“That’s exactly what I need to do,” I said.
Henley giggled and left the kitchen for the den where all her toys were.
“Sorry about the language,” I said.
“What’s your deal?” Elise asked.
“Excuse me?”
“You look different. Things are different. What’s going on?”
I took a deep breath. I stepped away from my sister. “I’m doing everything you hate, Elise. And I love it. I’m happy. For the first time in years, I am really happy.”
“That’s great,” Elise said. “What’s making you happy?”
I told Elise everything about the club. The music. Getting on stage and singing. Meeting Carla and Faye (and Robin for a minute). About playing guitar again.
I could tell she wasn’t as excited as I was.
To her, the only path in my life should have been money, a man, and kids.
“What else?” she asked.
“Liam.”
“What?”
“Liam.”
“Liam…”
“Liam,” I said. “I’m… I’m in love with Liam.”
Elise stiffened. “Wait. Please tell me you’re not having a fling with an engaged man.”
“Nope,” I said. “He’s not engaged anymore.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“No.”
“Emily…”
“What?” I asked.
“You can’t see how bad this is going to end, can you?”
“What is?”
“So this man is engaged for how long? And then suddenly he starts talking to you again and then breaks off his engagement… and you just jump into bed with…” Elise looked up. “Wait. Did you just have phone sex in my bathroom?”
“What? No.”
“The look on your face… that’s a sex look.”
“I did not have phone sex in your bathroom, Elise,” I said.
But I did stroke my clit for a while as I looked at a picture of Liam’s insanely huge cock…
“So you’re sleeping with Liam then.”
“It’s more than that.”
“What is it?”
“I’m in love with him.”
“Yeah, you already said that.”
“I’m being serious, Elise,” I said. She tried to turn away and I grabbed her arm. “Don’t do this.”
“Do what?”
“Attack me for doing something for myself.”
Elise shook her head. “You stood right there and said you were going to take over the bakery. Do you remember that?”
I slowly nodded. “Yes.”
“And I told you it was a mistake. I told you it was a money pit. I told you what you were doing with Miranda was a bad idea too. She’s not a good person. Yet you insisted it was okay and it would be okay.”
“What’s your point?”
“You’re doing the same thing,” Elise said. “Only now it’s with Miranda’s fucking fiancé.”
“Ex…”
“I can’t believe this,” Elise said.
She walked back to her book.
I took a deep breath. “This was a nice visit.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“How about just be happy for me,” I said. “I’m done being a doormat, Elise. That includes for you too. I know what you want for me in life, but that’s not your call. It’s my life. I found music again. I’m really good at singing. I’m not going to become rich and famous, but why can’t I enjoy it? This thing with Liam… sure, on the surface it looks weird, but I promise you, the way we feel is real. I’m going to get going. I have plans.”
“With Liam?”
“Yes.”
Elise stared at me. She swallowed hard. “I just hate seeing you hurting.”
“I’ve made mistakes in my life, Elise. But you have to realize you were lucky when you met Dan. I’m so happy for you two. And all you have. I love Dan. I love Henley. I love you. My path is different but that doesn’t mean you have to push me away.”
“I would never push you away.”
“You are.”
“I’m sorry,” Elise said. “I sometimes get overbearing. Overprotective. I get scared for you. I shouldn’t. You’re stronger than me, Emily. To take on the bakery. To look yourself in the mirror and want something and go for it. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I just can’t be a doormat anymore. That’s my fault. I have to make sure I raise my voice.”
“Hey. Maybe we can come see you sing one of these nights.”
“Yes,” I said. “I’m really good.”
“I know you are,” Elise said. “You used to sing all the time when we were kids.”
“You said I sucked.”
“That’s so you’d shut up.”
“You know you can never shut me up, right?”
Elise laughed. “True.”
“I really do have to get going. Oh, really quick… phone sex isn’t a thing anymore. It’s called sexting.”
Elise stood up and pointed to me. “I knew it!”
I winked and hurried out of the house.
Dan was getting out of his