Page 44 of The Marriage Rebound

Courtney was gone when I’d woken. I hadn’t even heard her get out of bed. Though I was surprised she’d actually slept in our room since she’d walked away like normal when she was done with a conversation, leaving me sitting on the couch. She’d been fast asleep, back to me, by the time I’d trudged upstairs.

She nodded. “Yeah, she left. She said she was gonna go work out and that she’d be back later to get me to school.”

“Oh. Um, what time is your flight?”

Mya made eye contact with me for the first time. “Uhh, Courtney said we’re driving.”

Her answer surprised me. “Really? Drivin’?”

Last time Courtney drove to Tallahassee she said she’d never do it again. We’d driven down there to move Mya in her freshman year. Courtney had complained because the drive was ridiculous with the lack of direct interstate access without adding extensive time to the trip. She was over all the small state routes we needed to take and had vowed to never do it again.

So for her to be driving, she really wanted away from me. To leave me. Again. “Do you know how much that guts me? To not have your wife acknowledge the biggest moment of your career?” Some things were fuzzy and a lot of words were exchanged between us last night, but those were clear as fucking day, as was the same pained expression she’d had the night she walked out on me.

Why was it so hard to admit a fuckup? To stop digging the hole? Because it was always more important to prove my point. That was why we were even fighting to begin with, her reaction had pissed me off when all I was trying to do was help.

Mya stood and gathered up her dishes. The action pulled my attention and kept me from spiraling too much.

“Yeah, that’s what she said.” She rinsed the plate and glass before putting both in the dishwasher. “I’m gonna get outta your way and get dressed and pack up.”

“Mya.”

“Yeah?”

I pulled the OJ and champagne from the fridge and set both on the counter along with the butter and strawberry jam. “Look . . . I just wanted to—” I blew out a breath. “I just wanted . . . I didn’t want you to think . . . to feel like—”

She frowned at me, arms crossed as I stumbled over my words. She looked too much like her sister in that moment, standing in judgment. I shifted my attention to opening the champagne as I worked to get what I was trying to say straight.

“Look, what I said, what came out in the heat of the moment, I never wanted . . . I never meant to imply that you, or takin’ care of you was an issue. It’s not.”

She shrugged and shook her head. “It’s all good.”

I filled the champagne flute. “No, it’s not. I shouldn’t have. You and your sister are close, and I know she loves you and wants only the best for you. We both do. You are family, Mya. Our family. Okay.”

She shrugged again. “It’s cool, really. No big deal.”

I rounded the island to stand in front of her, suddenly desperate to fix what I’d broken with her. I took both her hands into mine, squeezing them together. “It is. Mya. Please hear me. This mouth can be reckless, but never directed at you.”

Eventually, a smile cracked the facade, and I instantly felt twenty pounds lighter even before she wrapped her arms around my neck. It was a small win, but I was taking what I could get. Mya was the easier sister. I had no clue how to fix what was broken with Courtney.

“I love you both,” Mya said, pulling away. “But . . .”

“But what?” I encouraged her to continue as I completed fixing my muffin. It wouldn’t be as warm, but I still needed the carbs.

“I try not to get in the middle of y’all’s business, so I won’t comment on whatever y’all have or don’t have going on with the fertility clinic situation. I will say my sister’s not perfect, but I do know she works hard. She always has. She’s been basically taking care of me my whole life. And now she puts that same energy into you. Courtney has always busted her ass to do what she needs to do to make sure everyone else is taken care of. She’s a doer. That’s how she shows up.”

She gnawed on her lip and shifted her weight from side to side.

“Anyway, hearing y’all . . . I guess that sometimes I’ve forgotten how much she does for me. And, well . . . she has a lot on her shoulders, Sasha, but like I said, it’s not my business.”

Mya gave me a slight nod then started to walk off, but stopped. “One more thing. I see your point too. Courtney does work a lot. She’s gone often, but she does it for you. For us. Do you think she likes missing holidays and things like that because she’s always working? I’d like to think she’d rather be home.”

She paused for a moment as if giving time for her words to sink in. “I get being lonely and wanting to hang out with her. I’ve been there. There were times when we were kids, she’d be out doing whatever part-time gig, and I’d be home by myself. I mean, our folks would be there, but they didn’t count,” she said with an eye roll. “I mean, I hate to say I’m kind of glad she couldn’t go overseas this season. I like that I got to see her for the holidays. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful you’ve let me crash your family get-togethers, but it was nice having Courtney around this year.”

“It was. And I’m lookin’ forward to Christmas, and decoratin’, and havin’ you both here.”

“It’ll be a good time.” Mya headed upstairs, then turned back. “Last thing. Courtney is my big sister so I’m always going to be protective of her. But you’re also my sister, and I’ve gotten used to having one that I can go get my nails done with. And talk makeup, and hair. So, y’all need to put your big-girl panties on and figure your shit out.” She darted up the stairs before I could say anything.

It wasn’t a conversation I’d expected to have, but it didn’t surprise me Mya had stuck up for her sister. The two were close. But she also had the misfortune of sort of being in my shoes with wanting Courtney’s attention. It wasn’t a club of one as I’d thought. A unique outside—but not really—looking in perspective.