She pulls out her phone and takes a few selfies with her drink, like we’re not in the middle of discussing life-changing events.
Then she turns to me and manages to unsettle me completely. “And how isnot letting him inworking for you?”
I drop my head back, tapping it against the backrest. “What have you done to my polite baby sister?”
“She grew up a bit.” She elbows me and gives me a peck on the cheek. “Ever since you left home, you’ve been full of life and plans for the future. You’re successful. You achieved everything you wanted to. This is the first time I’ve seen you truly miserable. Ask yourself why?”
I don’t need to ask. I know the answer. I’ve been breathing it. Dreaming it. Thinking it.
Knowing it deep in my bones.
“Because I miss him. Because I got used to himbeing around. Because he supports me without being overbearing. Because he values my opinion. Because he feels like home.”
“Because you love him,” she sing-songs, drawing a heart in the air.
I close my eyes. “Because I love him.”
The words settle all wrong. Not their meaning. Or their validity. But because I’m saying them here.
Because I haven’t said them yet to the person who should hear them. To the man who deserves them.
“And it scares you,” Tee whispers, lowering her head to my shoulder.
“And it scares me.” I rest my head on hers, and we both sigh.
“Does it scare you more than looking our father in the eyes and defying him?”
I pull away, annoyed that she would bring Victor into this. “Those are two different things.”
She nods, smirking like she has some insight I’m missing. “Why are they different, though?”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “Because I have nothing to lose when I rebel against Father.”
“Soooo…” She cocks her head, grinning. “You’re scared of losing Liam, not of loving him.”
The triumph in her eyes is annoying. She’s barely eighteen, for fuck’s sake.
“You’re making no sense.” I refuse to accept her logic.
“And you’re trying tothinkyour heart into safety while it’s begging you to set it free.”
“Another quote?” I deadpan.
“From a fortune cookie.” She smirks.
“Tawny Lock!” I can’t help but chuckle.
It took two weeks of Liam’s absence, and two hours of my sister’s absurdly sensible quotes, for the walls to crack. For the wings to grow. For my heart to soar.
“You’re in love.” She shimmies her shoulders. “What now?”
“Now I need to tell him.”
The idea tightens my stomach at first. Then Liam’s face flickers in my mind.
The way his eyes will soften when he hears it. The way he will seize my lips. The way it will feel so right, and the knot will loosen.
“Yay. When is he coming back?” Tee beams.
