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Her coffee-brown eyes squint down at me.
“Really,” I say once more. “If you want to help, meet me at school tomorrow. Eight am. I’d love help fending off sixth-and-seventh graders as they attack me with questions and judgment.”
Annie stifles a laugh, then leans down and places a soft kiss on my forehead.
Myhead.
As if I were her dog or little nephew.
How many times have I imagined her lips? How many times has my brain conjured what they might feel like? How I’d trace them with my finger, memorize their shape, and claim them formy own… How I’d tease them open and take her in with every single one of my senses?
How many times? I have no idea.
Now, they’ve been pressed to my head, and I’m reduced to a slobbering, four-legged hound dog. Fan-freaking-tastic.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Annie says, tucking a strand of her straight auburn hair behind one ear. She gives me a quick wave before walking out the door.
Don’t mind me. Just time for my two-month meltdown.
“Alice, baby,” Coco says, reminding me that I am far from alone. “Remember where Uncle Owen keeps his paper and crayons?”
She nods, her blonde locks bobbing.
“Well, Daddy would love for you to draw him a picture. He gets home from his trip today. Remember?”
“Yes! He wants a pony picture that looks like Rosey!”
“Yes!” Coco says. “Go sit at Uncle Owen’s table and draw just that for Daddy, okay?”
“Jude’s out of town? Where’s Lulabelle?” My head is fuzzy, but I’m just now noticing that my baby niece is missing from this scene.
“She’s with Mom,” she answers quickly. “Owen.” My name is like a warning.
“Yeah?” I lean back against the couch, deflating.
“How long have you been in love with Annie?”
And then I choke on nothing but my own spittle.
“I know I’m new to this family. But I can’t believe I never saw it. How long, Owen?”
I swallow and mindlessly search for the ice pack I had before dinner before my nap.
“Owen,” my sister warns again. She blows an exasperated breath from her lips. “I can’t believe it… all this time and I never realized.” She bows her head in a shake.
I am a mouse in a trap. There’s no escape. So– “Forever,” I say. “It’s been forever.”
She leans her head on my shoulder and takes my hand in hers. It’s not what Miles or Coop would have done. It’s definitely not what Levi would do to me in this minute—nope, my oldest brother would kick my backside. Sometimes I need that. But this—this is new, and well, it’s comforting.
“I’m sorry,” she says. “I didn’t know.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
Coco lifts her head. “Being in love is a very big deal, Owen. A huge deal. It’s an astronomical—” She bites her lip, studying my face. I’m not sure what she sees there, but that stare says a litter of puppies is dying, and there’s nothing my veterinarian sister can do for them. Nothing she can do for me. “Deal.” She spouts the last word like it’s a sentence all on its own.
“It’s not. Not when it’s unrequited.”
“I hate that word. I hate it.”
