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“So... sis. Would you like to tell me about the side business that has you sneaking around behind my back?”
I was speechless; I literally had no idea what Erica was talking about. I’d gone to the grocery store after saying goodbye to Jax, then walked in the door to find my sister seething at me. “What are you even talking about?”
I put down the shopping and removed my coat and hat while my sister paced back and forth.
“I’m talking about the fact that Sven Larsson and Aimee Fredericks both approached me today to ask if you could make them some of the protein balls you make for me. They said you could set your price.” She looked at me. “How do they know about your protein balls?” she asked.
“I gave them some, at the slope today,” I said, a thrill running through me. Someone liked my cooking so much they wanted to pay me for it! I almost clapped my hands until I saw Erica’s face.
Her eyes had thunderclouds in them. “How could you betray me like this?”
“I don’t see what the big deal is, Erica,” I replied in a calm, soothing voice. I put away the groceries; here I’d thought she would wonder where I’d been and be concerned at my absence. But as always, she was far too wrapped up in herself to notice. I should have known better.
“You don’t see? Are you kidding?” she asked, voice rising several octaves. “Let me remind you. You are here for me. To assist me. To help me win. Not to play Little Miss Entrepreneur and give the other athletes an edge, for god’s sake!”
“Erica, I’m going to be straight with you.” I turned to her and looked into her big eyes. “All I did was mention it to a couple of skiers—I guess it was Sven and Aimee. I told them I made the protein balls that I brought to the slopes with me. Sven asked what I put in them, and I told him that, too. Then he and Aimee tried one. That. Was. It—I’m serious. There was no sales talk, no discussion of price or of me making some for them or anybody else. I mean it. I’m as surprised as you.”
She crossed her arms. “Well, you’re not going to do it, are you?”
I hesitated. It would be nice to do something for myself, like Jax had said—I could make a big batch, work out a price...
My sister picked up on my pause. “I can’t believe you!” she shouted. “Traitor! I should have left you at home. You’re no help to me, anyway!” She stomped up the stairs and slammed the door to her room. It was as if I’d told her she was grounded.
I stood alone in the kitchen and ran my hands through my hair, frustrated beyond belief. And then I put on my apron and began to pull ingredients from the cabinets and fridge. I hadn’t even considered doing it before she’d told me I couldn’t. But I was going to make a huge batch of protein balls, because Jax was right. It was time for me to start taking my own dreams into consideration for once.