Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
R onnie was sprawled out on the living room couch, on the phone with her coach, when her dad entered, a bowl of popcorn in hand.
“I got it, Sergei.” She smiled at her dad and shifted over so he could sit.
The couch sank, and Sergei’s low voice droned on.
She liked her coach, but she’d heard it all before. So she was able to give all the appropriate yeses, noes, and murmurs to show she was listening, all while holding a conversation in charades about what movie her dad wanted to put on.
When he held out the popcorn bowl, she took a handful. “I understand, Sergei.”
Her dad winked, and she smiled.
“Just don’t forget the strength training,” Sergei added, in case she’d missed it the last ten times he’d mentioned it.
“I know.”
And then she said “I know” and “sure” and “already on it” another dozen times before he finally relented.
She hung up, a weight rising off her as soon as she pressed that little red circle on her screen, then settled in to watch a movie with her dad.
It felt weird, watching a movie in the middle of the day. But her father had always worked odd hours as a foreman at the mill, and it wasn’t rare for him to be killing time before his swing shift.
For her, though, watching a movie and munching on popcorn while the sun was out felt like she was breaking the law.
She kept looking at her phone as though Sergei or her agent might psychically know she was slacking off and call her to tell her off.
But her phone didn’t ring, and so she tried her best to enjoy it.
It wasn’t long, though, before Margot returned home from work. As an elementary school teacher, she got done early, and she didn’t seem to think it strange to find Ronnie and their dad vegging on the couch and covered in popcorn kernels.
“Hey, you’re here!” Margot’s eyes were bright with excitement—and fixed intently on Ronnie.
Ronnie shared a quick look with her dad before squirming in her seat. “How was work?”
Margot waved a dismissive hand. “Fine. The same. But you…” She perched on the edge of the sofa. “I was really hoping to see you.”
“Uh…okay.” Wariness slithered through Ronnie, and the feeling only grew as Margot started chatting a mile a minute about the fresh flower bouquets she’d been eyeing up in some bridal magazine.
Margot’s eyes went wide with earnest sincerity.
“I know I said I’d already made my choice because the premade centerpieces were easier, but Ronnie…
” She reached out and covered Ronnie’s hand with her own, giving it a squeeze.
“I really think if we do the fresh flowers, it’ll make all the difference. My dream wedding will be complete.”
Ronnie stared at her. Her first thought was— Doesn’t having the love of your life as the groom make it a dream wedding?
Or having her friends and loved ones there to celebrate their union?
Was it really flowers and centerpieces that made it a dream come true?
But Margot’s gaze turned pleading as they sat there staring at each other, and Ronnie shoved those thoughts aside, opting instead to do a mental tally of the new price tag on this wedding.
When the silence grew painfully awkward, she forced a smile. “Okay. Yeah. Sure. Go for it.”
Margot’s shoulders sank with relief, and she leaned forward to peck Ronnie’s cheek. “Thanks, sis. You’re the best.”
And then…she was off.
Margot practically skipped down the hall, happy as a clam. Almost like she’d expected Ronnie to say yes.
Almost like it was taken for granted.
Ronnie shook off the thought, but she couldn’t shake off the sting it left behind. Truth be told, she’d been feeling that way a lot when it came to Margot. Not so much with her dad, but maybe even a little there too.
She’d always been happy to help out. That was what family did. But at some point along the way, it had stopped feeling like a gift and more like an expectation. An obligation.
And if the money dries up?
She pinched the bridge of her nose and tried not to go there.
It was hard not to after the accident. Another ligament sprain or a plethora of other injuries she could sustain while boarding was all it would take to put an end to the payday.
The most infuriating thing was that she’d sprained her ligament while working out at the gym of all places.
She’d been pushing too hard, her personal trainer hadn’t arrived for the day, and pop—she was done.
According to the specialist, that sprain had been in the works thanks to a boarding accident she’d had a few weeks prior, but it was the gym workout that sealed her fate.
Oh man, if that happened again…who would be there to help her dad with car payments and to give her sister the luxuries she couldn’t afford for herself?
“You okay, kiddo?” Her dad had paused the movie, and Ronnie only just realized he hadn’t turned it back on.
“Yeah, I’m…” She was about to say I’m good but couldn’t quite manage it. “I’m fine.”
But she got to her feet. Movie time over. She was feeling way too restless to sit and veg any longer. Brushing off the popcorn kernels, she headed toward the door where she’d left her running shoes.
“I thought you already went for a run this morning,” her dad said.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t go far. And besides, Sergei really wants me to do some strength training.”
Her father frowned. “Don’t you push that knee too hard.”
“I won’t.” She forced a smile. “I know what to be aware of now, and my PT says I’m good to run again. I’ll be back soon.”
Her father nodded, already turning the TV on again.
Ronnie felt a pang of guilt, even though she hadn’t lied. Not necessarily. She would go exercise.
Come to think of it, there was a running path that had stations for strength training along the circuit. If she headed there, she wouldn’t be lying to her father, and Sergei would be pleased, and…
She took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh.
And everyone around her would be happy.