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“What?”
“Nothing,” River said.
“Just say it. You’ve never held anything back before.”
“Unless you love her and you’re scared shitless over it. You never saw yourself settling down with anyone. We knew it. You always said you were who you were and if someone didn’t like it, they could go fuck off.”
“That’s right,” he said.
“Seems to me Ivy likes it.”
“She never acts it,” he said.
“Because she isn’t clingy and whiny about your hours and time? All those things you told her months ago you didn’t want or like?”
“Yes,” he said.
“The truth is there is no winning with you, Brooks.”
“She just told me she loved me when she slammed out the door,” he said.
“Why didn’t you stop her?”
“And say what? Oh sorry, changed my mind. I don’t need space now that you love me. That you were right on when you said I have more insecurities than you?”
“She said that to you?” River asked, grinning.
“Yeah,” he said.
“For a little thing, she says some big powerful words, doesn’t she?”
“Guess so,” he said.
“What are you going to do now?” River asked.
“Nothing. What can I do?”
“You can say you’re sorry and that you didn’t mean any of it. Admit what you just said to me and tell her the truth. That you were wrong and maybe you are...scared?”
“No,” he said.
“Then learn to live alone,” River said, standing up. “Because I’m not sure you’re going to find anyone as perfect as Ivy and maybe you are an idiot if you can’t see that.”
He watched his brother leave.
When his throat felt tight and his cheeks wet, he realized he was crying and wondered how long it’d been since he’d felt this upset over anything in his life.
Something he could have prevented, but his pride got in the way.
37
You Grew
“What are you doing back home?” Dahlia asked her. “I thought you were staying with Brooks this weekend.”
“I thought so too,” Ivy said, dropping the big bag on the counter. She’d already stopped and had a large brownie at the bakery she passed and then she went out and bought ice cream and every other sweet treat she could think to stuff her face with this weekend.
“What’s going on?” Dahlia asked. Her sister finally focused on her and saw all the food. “Oh my God. Did you get into a fight with Brooks?”
