Chapter 4
That's why she wouldn't let up until I agreed to let her come along for this trip.
I still remember the day before the holiday.
It was when Lily made a point to call me.
"I haven't seen you in over two months! If you keep ignoring me, I'm gonna make a scene! Don't just focus on your guy, I need to be more important than Michael!"
The plushie was bought just a month ago.
I hadn't invited her over for almost two months.
So that photo was...
My mind went completely blank.
I couldn't hear a thing anymore.
"Have you picked any yet?"
Lily's voice floated over from the other end of the couch, carrying that familiar lazy drawl.
When I didn't respond, Lily gave me a gentle nudge.
"Ugh, you're still so slow! Whatever, take your time, I'm heading to the kitchen to assist."
The sound of water came from the kitchen. Michael was washing vegetables.
Lily squeezed past him, and Michael shifted aside to let her through.
"Don't get in the way." he said.
"Please, I wash veggies cleaner than you ever could." Lily shot back.
She grabbed the greens from him and started rinsing them in the sink.
Michael started slicing the meat.
And then Lily called out to him.
"Don't cut off all the fat! If it's just lean, it won't taste good when you fry it."
"Thinner, thinner! Seriously, you're hopeless in the kitchen."
Lily's laughter drifted out from the kitchen.
It cut right through me, like knives twisting in my chest.
One was cooking, the other was helping out, and they worked together like they'd done it a million times.
Before long, four dishes were ready.
At the dinner table, Michael set a plate of shrimp in the middle and slid the ribs right in front of Lily.
"At least you've got a conscience, you didn't make me slave away for nothing."
Lily quipped, sounding totally pleased with herself, and then she snatched a rib, took a big bite, and shut her eyes in exaggerated bliss.
"Mia, you have to try this. Your man's cooking is seriously leveling up!" she called out.
I picked up a piece.
It tasted the same as ever.
Michael sat down and started peeling shrimp without even thinking about it.
He placed the first peeled shrimp in my plate, then the second one too.
Then, without missing a beat, he put the third one right onto Lily's plate.
I took a couple of bites, then set my fork down.
"I'm done."
Michael just kept on peeling shrimp, never slowing down.
"Are you full already?" he asked.
The shrimp shells made quiet crunching sounds between his fingers.
He went through the rest of the shrimp, peeling them all one by one.
Lily stuffed the shrimp in her mouth, mumbling as she chewed.
"Mia, if I can't find a guy like your husband, I'd rather never get married," she said.
I frowned at her.
"Weren't you always saying he wasn't good enough?" I asked.
"That's just 'cause he took you away from me."
She pouted, clinging to my hand and whining playfully like a spoiled kid.
"We've been sisters for so many years, and ever since you got married, we hardly get to hang out anymore. Of course I'm not happy about it."
"But as a boyfriend, he's actually pretty awesome," she teased.
She gave Michael a meaningful look as she said that last part.
I managed a weak smile.
"Mia?" Lily called out.
Lily tilted her head, looking at me curiously.
"You're not acting like yourself today," she said.
"Maybe I'm just not feeling well," I responded.
I pushed my plate away.
"I'm gonna go rest for a bit," I said.
Just as I stood up, Lily reached across the table and grabbed my wrist.
"I'm staying to take care of you," she said.
She looked up at me, her face full of genuine concern.
"I'm sleeping with you tonight. Michael can crash in the guest room," she added.
Michael was clearing the dishes.
He looked up and shot Lily a glance.
"No need," I responded.