Page 81 of Scoring Chances
“Aww,” Catherine says, grabbing Oliver’s arm and holding it to her, admiring her son.
“We had mutual friends that introduced us,” Joshua says, looking at me. “And I’m really glad they did.”
He’s a liar. But he sounds like he means that part. I don’t let it give me any hope.
I look around to see Cole drawing under a tree. Maddie and Parker are playing tag with some kids they just met. They’re laughing and giggling. But those kids look really familiar. I stand and put my hand up to eyes.
“Oh crap,” I say out loud.
“What’s wrong?” Catherine turns around and looks to the park.
“Nothing!” I say, taking my seat beside Joshua. “I just thought I saw someone I knew. False alarm.”
“Well, well, well… if it isn’t my sister!” I still, turning to face a voice I know all too well.
“Courtney! What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here? Taking your spot apparently. Now that you’re out mom asked me to take the minions out." She spots Joshua, "Omg, is that him?”
I quickly jump out of my seat and push her away from Josh and his family.
“Yes, and you can’t be here. They can’t know that you’re my–”
“Sister?” I hear Catherine say to Joshua.
“She has a big family,” he tells her.
I look back and smile over my shoulder before turning back to my sister. “You need to go… now!”
“What? I can’t. I don’t have a car and dad dropped us off. He’s coming to get us after his meeting.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
My other brother CJ is talking to Cole. The younger siblings are playing with Maddie and Parker. And my cover is going to be so blown.
“Just stay away, okay,” I whisper to her. “And keep the minions away too.”
“Fine,” she scoffs, turning away and glaring at me over her shoulder. She hates when I treat her like one of the younger kids.
I go back to the picnic table. “Sorry about that. My other siblings are here too.”
Catherine looks around. “Goodness how many siblings do you have?”
“Eight,” I say, and it’s easy because it’s true.
Her eyes widen and Oliver spits out his soda, “Eight siblings? Wow, your parents sure had their hands full.”
“We take care of each other mostly. After three they just kind of got used to the madness,” I shrug.
“And what do your parents do, Cassidy?”
“My dad’s a carpenter and a pastor. My mom stays home and homeschools the youngest ones.”
“Oh… but you live separately?”
“Yes, after her parent’s divorced they split the siblings up half and half,” Joshua says.
“Oh,” Catherine says looking at me. “I’m sorry to hear that. Sounds complicated.”