Chapter 4: A Home That Was Never Going to Be Mine

The living room went quiet.

Cleo froze, her eyes quickly turning red.

Lachlan frowned. “Zinnia, what’s wrong with you? You’ve always looked out for her.”

“She’s just borrowing a room for a while. Is that really enough to make a scene?”

“I’m not making a scene.”

“Then what is this? She’s your sister, not some stranger. The apartment has three bedrooms. If one sits empty, it sits empty.”

“That’s supposed to be our home after the wedding.” I looked at him. “Is she going to live there indefinitely?”

Lachlan was stumped for a moment.

Cleo said softly, “I just wanted to be closer to you. If you don’t want that, forget it.”

When Lachlan saw the tears welling in her eyes, his expression darkened.

“Look at you. One sentence and you’ve already upset her. She’s twenty-one, just starting her career. Can’t you cut her some slack?”

“Then who’s ever thought about me?”

For the first time, I didn’t lower my voice.

“You got her a project coordinator position with a decent salary. You covered her security deposit. She doesn’t have to worry about a thing.”

“What about me? I only have—”

“That’s enough,” Lachlan cut me off. “Be reasonable. I’m taking care of her for your sake, aren’t I?”

Cleo tugged at his sleeve. “Don’t. She’s probably just got pre-wedding jitters.”

He patted her hand, then turned back to me. “The decision is made. Cleo is only staying until she’s saved enough for her own deposit. It won’t affect anything.”

I nodded. “Whatever.”

I wasn’t going to move into that apartment anyway.

Lachlan seemed to relax.

Then, almost immediately, Cleo’s voice floated up from behind him. “What about the pink curtains?”

He smiled. “If you like them, change them.”