Her eyes darted between Josie and me. “You choose her.”
“I didn’t understand.” The lie tasted like acid, but I said it anyway because Josie breathing mattered more than my pride.
Brandi swallowed. “You didn’t?”
“No.” I made my voice softer. “You were trying to show me something. Trying to show me that you’re the one meant for me.”
“Yes.” Her eyes filled. “Yes, exactly. I knew you’d understand if kept showing you.”
Josie stared at me.
I didn’t look at her.
Couldn’t.
Because she had to believe I had this.
And I had to believe it too.
“Then let’s talk,” I said.
Brandi’s chin trembled. “You’ll talk to me?”
I took another slow step and nodded. “Of course. We used to talk.”
Brandi’s eyes narrowed, and I stopped again.
“Brandi, look at me.”
She did.
“Let Josie go.”
“No.”
“Then move away from her a little.”
“Why?”
“So I can see you.”
She blinked. “You can see me.”
“Not enough.” That hit where I needed it to.
Her face softened.
She wanted to be seen and that was the whole damn problem. She had turned being ignored into madness and aimed it at Josie because Josie had what she wanted.
Me.
“I missed you,” Brandi whispered.
“I know.”
“You stopped looking at me.”
I nodded. “I know.”
