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My head grows fuzzy. This was the very last thing I’d expected to encounter when I came home. Why are they even hanging out?
I swallow. “I was waiting until I got back into town to call you.”
He crosses his arms over his chest, his jaw ticking. “You couldn’t even give me the courtesy of sending a text and letting me know you’re alright?”
“I didn’t know you were worried. I thought you were calling about…everything that happened.”
His nostrils flare. “I’m supposed to believe you didn’t listen to a single one of my voicemails or read a single one of my texts?”
My skin heats at his high-handedness. Why does he think he has the right to behave this way after he told me we could never see each other again?
I grab my phone and shove it in his face. “Here. Take a look.”
Brandon snatches it from my hand and starts scrolling through my messages. If I weren’t so frazzled, I would laugh. He’s back to being my stern boss daddy.
Brandon shoves the phone back into my hand. “Fine. You didn’t listen to them. Still, you should have known we’d all be worried sick.”
Rage flares suddenly, compelling me to step closer, nearly grazing his chest with mine. I raise my chin to meet his gaze. “Not after Monday, Brandon. I believe your exact words were, ‘we may never see each other again.’”
His eyes soften. “I’m sorry. I thought something happened to you. So did Sofia.”
“Really?” I grit my teeth. “Because she doesn’t look worried at all.”
Sofia winces. “I told him it wasn’t unusual for you to go on a trip by yourself.”
There’s no anger in her voice. There’s not even coldness. She sounds almost like the Sofia from my youth.
What is going on with her?
“Where were you?” Brandon asks, his tone deceptively casual.
I shrug. “It’s none of your business.”
His eye twitches. “Were you safe?”
I snort. “As you can see, I’m fine.” I push past him and walk toward Sofia. Her eyes are huge, but she doesn’t seem upset.
Something’s changed in her. I can’t quite pinpoint it, but she’s different than she was before I left. And strangely, the change is not anger or pious self-righteousness or anything I’d expect after what she caught me doing.
“I need to talk to my sister,” I say. “Please give us some space.”
For a moment, Brandon just stares at me, his eyes wide. “Again, I’m sorry.” His voice is rough. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”
“That’s okay,” I say, but I make a pointed glance at the door.
I won’t accept half measures from him any longer. If he wants to have a conversation, he needs to admit that I’m a grown woman. He needs to tell me outright that he accepts me as an atheist. Not just as a human being, but as a partner. His partner.
“I’ll...” He scratches the back of his head. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Sounds good.” I keep my tone curt.
His eyes grow determined. “We need to have a conversation. Things ended too abruptly last week.”
“We can do that.” I smile tightly. “But not now.”
Those determined eyes grow hesitant, and exhilaration pumps through my veins. I’m taking control. He doesn’t get to boss me around like he used to.
As soon as he leaves, I turn to Sofia. I can’t approach her yet. I need to gauge her emotions first. Is she going to lash out at me now that he’s gone?
