Page 4 of Edward’s Bunny

“Hmph, I’d rather go to work than deal with that chaos.”

“Hey! What the hell is your problem? Do you have issues with my family now? They love you.” I was seething. My family, although I admit are crazy, welcomed Randy with open arms, despite many voicing private concerns about his age.

Randy scoffed and raised one eyebrow. “Come on! You know your family is nuts. Who in their right mind has ten freaking kids? It’s like your parents didn’t believe in birth control. And don’t even get me started on your sister, Olivia. She thinks she’s the boss of everyone. I’ll pass, thanks.”

My oldest sister, Olivia, was rough around the edges. She was controlling and very opinionated. It was her way or the highway growing up. Luckily, she married Police Officer Ben, as my brothers and I referred to him. Ben mellowed Olivia out, especially from her younger days of terror, but when he wasn’t around, look out.

“I’ll give you, Olivia. It’s because she’s the oldest, but that’s not the point. This is my family you’re talking about. What the hell is wrong with you? Randy, what’s going on? It seems all we do is argue. Ever since Haiti. We—”

"Here we go again. Haiti this, Haiti that. I don’t have time for this. I have to get to work and, you know, save lives. Why don’t you bring your BFF Owen to your parents?" Randy sneered, his voice dripping with contempt as he mentioned Owen's name. He grabbed his phone and keys from the kitchen table and moved toward the door. "Can't believe you'd even consider involving him in our lives again after what he did."

"Randy, we—" I tried to interject, but he cut me off.

"I'll talk to you later," he said coldly, his eyes dark with resentment. "Just remember how easily you forgave the guy who tried to ruin us. Unbelievable." With that, he stormed out into the music-filled hall.

Tears burned in my eyes as I watched the door close behind him. I crumbled to the ground and sobbed. He’d never been so hostile, so mean. He’d always looked at me like I’d hung the stars in the sky. Now, he looked at me with apathy and almost… hate. Tonight wasn’t supposed to happen like this. We were supposed to have time to be with each other and connect. I couldn’t go on like this. Something had to give.