“Are you going to bed?” I asked my sister, ignoring Mark when he tried to speak to me.
“Nope.” Claire smiled and pointed at the television. “I’m staying up forLook Who’s Talking.”
“Fine.” I nodded and plopped down beside her. “Then so am I.”
“You’re being super rude,” Claire whispered in my ear.
I knew I was, and I was worried about getting in trouble from my parents.
I tried to be good, to do the right thing, but I couldn’t stop myself tonight.
I didn’t like it.
It felt all wrong.
“Don’t sit on his lap,” I whispered back.
“How come?”
I don’t know. “Just don’t, okay?”
“Okay.”
“I mean it.” I held my pinky finger up to her. “Promise me.”
“I promise,” she replied hooking her finger around mine before proceeding to curl up in a ball on my lap.
Normally, I would kill my sister for hugging me, but not tonight.
Instead, I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and kept her close.
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
Lizzie
DECEMBER 31, 1994
“ARE YOU OKAY?” IASKEDGIBSIE, EVEN THOUGHIALREADY KNEW THE ANSWER.
It was New Year’s Eve, and we were sitting at my kitchen table, while his mother and Keith sipped champagne with my parents.
“Yeah, I’ll be okay,” Gibsie replied, sounding sad. “Thanks for inviting me to your party, Liz.”
It was my parents’ party, not mine. They’d decided to throw a party this New Year’s Eve to thank their friends for all their support during the year.
Mam was out of bed and dressed up in a beautiful dress, and Dad looked actually happy tonight. The kitchen was filled with grown-ups whose names I didn’t know, while Caoimhe and Mark had the living room jam-packed with friends from school.
Reaching over, I placed my hand on Gibsie’s and whispered, “Keith’s a fucker.”
That made him smile, so I racked my brain for more curse words. “Keith’s a stupid, son-of-a-bitch, fucker pup.”
Now, he full belly laughed. “Heisa fucker pup.”
I grinned. “Yep.”
When the doorbell sounded, Gibs and I both looked at each other before making a run for the front door.
“He’s here,” I squealed at the same time Gibs cheered, “She’s here!”
