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“No opinion, sweetheart,” Mom says. “I’m just sorry Annie doesn’t think about you that way.”
“Doesn’t she, though?” Coco says, and by the throaty growl escaping Levi’s throat, I know this isn’t the first time she’s suggested this.
“Her letter said—” Levi starts.
“Her letter is for every eye in the northwestern United States. Maybe she doesn’t want them all prying in on her personal feelings.” Coco stabs a slice of ham with her fork.
“He needs to move on,” Levi says.
“Maybe Levi’s right,” Miles says. Miles—even Miles agrees with Levi? I expected something like that from Cooper, but Miles?
“But what if Coco’s right?” Cooper says to Miles—making me feel like I have officially entered the Twilight Zone.
“How is he supposed to know?” Miles asks, his kind face downcast.
I sit and listen, wishing it were just me and my salad bowl again.
Alice raises her little hand in the air as if she were in school. “Why would she writeneverif she didn’t mean never? That doesn’t make any sense at all.” And maybe she’s right.Honest and true—it’s Annie’s motto.
“Alice,” her dad hushes her. “This is a grown-up conversation.”
“Then why are they doing it with me and Lulabelle here? If you do not want my opinion, sir, then you shouldn’t ask.”
“Okay. Okay,” Mom says, waving her hands. She’s been wrangling four rowdy boys for years now. She’s got this. “That’s enough. If Owen wants your opinion, he will ask. Otherwise, you need to discuss something else.”
My family goes quiet as if there is absolutely nothing left in the world to talk about.
“Well, who are you gonna ask?” Alice says, not afraid to hide that she is looking right at me.
I clear my throat, knowing how persistent Alice can be. “Sure.” Let’s get this over with. “Well, I suppose Meredith is the only one who didn’t get to voice her thoughts.”
“But I’ve got real good ideas!” Alice croons.
“Alice, sweetie, eat your mac n’ cheese.” Jude taps the side of her plate, only to get the sourest seven-year-old glare I’ve ever seen.
Meredith nibbles on her bottom lip. “I do have a thought.”
Levi runs a hand over the stubble of his chin, leading me to believe he knows exactly what her thought is and he doesn’t agree.
Which only makes me want to hear it.
“I don’t think she would have tried to kiss you—even accidentally—if there were zero feelings there. I think it’s time.”
I swallow, staring at my one-day sister-in-law like she is the only person in the room.
“Owen Bailey, it’s time to speak your truth.”
35
Owen
I’ve never had so much peace come over me—not like I did when Meredith said those words.It’s time.
And I don’t care what anyone says—I won’t allow Annie to be done with me. Sure, confessing may make things awkward and difficult at first. But the warmth that washed over me when Meredith gave me that advice helped me realize that even if she never feels the same way, I need to do this.
For her.
For myself.
