Page 95 of 6 Clues Your Nemesis Loves You

“Mags.” I meet her eyes. Her face gentles, and she doesn’t glance away. “I love you. I don’t expect our relationship to be all laughs and love notes and paint fights, but I do expect mutual respect, because I have my own insecurities. When you put up emotional walls or leave the way you did at Des’s house, blowing me off, I take it personally, even if it isn’t personal. I did that with my father too. Took everything more personally than it was intended, when his choices were always about himself. It’ll take me a while to figure out that part of myself, so even if your actions come from your vulnerability, they sucker-punch me. I promise to do better being honest with you, speaking up if I’m upset, and I need you to promise me the same.”

“I promise.” Eyes brimming, she nods and cups my cheeks. “I promise. I’m so sorry. After everything settled from work—”

“How pissed was Shannon?” I can’t help but interrupt. My first concern will always be Maggie.

“She was not happy, to say the least. The bland face made an appearance, but she also sat me down and told me not to be so hard on myself. Reminded me I can’t be everywhere at once when running events. All I can do is plan and put people in place, which I did. She was actually impressed I found Mr. Sorenson so quickly.”

“You used Sandra, didn’t you?”

“Of course I used Sandra.” She lets out a watery laugh. “Sandra also told me she has the address for your half brothers.”

Honestly, Sandra is a national treasure. Her cryptic words about being good at sourcing information make more sense now. Somehow, she must have gotten hold of an early copy of my father’s tell-all and went in search of his family.

“How are you doing with all that stuff?” Maggie asks softly. “With your dad and his other sons? Are you okay?”

“I actually think I want to meet them.” My first concrete feelings on the matter. Growing my family, despite my father’s failings. “I also need to call my dad and finally confront him, but that can wait. I believe we’ve gotten off track.” I bat my lashes at her. “You were in the middle of apologizing to me.”

She huffs out an amused breath and holds my hands. “The reason I didn’t come back after we found Mr. Sorenson, or text you about it, was shame. I was ashamed of how I treated you. Yelling at you and blaming you for my choice to leave the event wasn’t okay. I was stressed and overwhelmed and lashed out when I shouldn’t have, especially with what you had going on. I was also upset I didn’t have the guts to tell you I loved you too. Then I read your text, that you were leaving, and I…”

Her lips tremble, her sad sniffle slaying me. “I lost it. Drove here, terrified to lose you, hoping to catch you before you left. When it was clear I missed you, I got E’s spare key and slept here the first couple nights, praying the bad weather would bring you home. You obviously didn’t show, but I also realized you were right.”

I run my knuckles down her cool cheek. “I’m always right, Gingersnap.”

She laughs, twining her arms around my neck. “I will ignore all parts of that horrible sentence, but you were right about my parents—about me needing to open up to them, talk about the uncomfortable feelings I’ve avoided all these years.”

“You spoke to them?”

She nods. “It was tough. There were tears all around. They knew I overheard them questioning if adopting me was a bad choice, but they didn’t know how deeply that rejection hurt. How it all festered with my mother abandoning me at the gas station.”

“I bet they felt awful.”

“I’ve never seen my dad like that. He hugged me so hard I couldn’t breathe, told me over and over they love and support me no matter what. Explained how hard that time was on them, trying to do right by me. And Mom was a mess. Admitted how scared she was for me back then, and that she had her own issues feeding that fear—worry about losing me the way she lost her sister. It was a hugging, snotty mess, and when I told them how I pushed you away because I was scared, they got mad.”

I frown. “At you?”

“More at themselves, I think. Like they failed me. Mom and I stayed up late talking about hard times she and my father went through, how scary and wonderful relationships are. That my constant striving for perfection and holding myself to an impossible gold standard is so damaging. That real love means loving someone for their strengths and their faults. She even admitted she disliked Harrison and thought he was wrong for me.”

I curl my lip. “She must’ve shaken his hand.”

“You can’t still be jealous of Harrison.”

“I will always be jealous of Harold and every other loser you dated. Those were years I missed with you.”

She drags her nails over my scalp, making me sigh. “If you forgive me for hurting you, you won’t miss any more. When you told me you loved me, I freaked out because I knew I loved you too, and that scared the hell out of me. But I’m not scared anymore. I promise to do my best going forward, to talk more openly about what I’m feeling, with you and with my parents. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you at your family meeting.”

“It’s okay.” I tuck a flyaway hair behind her ear. “We’re okay.”

She gives me a tender smile, then glances at the sky. “I know we have more talking to do, but can we do it later? You got home later than I expected, and we’re actually on a schedule. We have your birthday to celebrate and my family’s Chanukah party to attend, if you’re up for it all.”

I wrap my arms around her and pull my favorite nemesis against me. “I’m up for whatever you have planned. And since we have the rest of our lives to talk, let’s get this party started.”

She doesn’t freeze up at my mention of a future together. She pulls my head down, kisses me soundly, then whispers, “Our whole lives. Now get in this tent before I freeze.”

chapter thirty-five

Like at her tent picnic, Maggie has a small heater inside to warm the cozy space. Unlike our tent picnic, there’s a small towel, a thick blanket, and two wrapped packages tied with bows.

“Is it someone’s birthday?” I ask, touched she planned this intimate setup.