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CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Ethan envelops me in a hug as soon as I cross the finish line, and I’m still so stunned, it takes me a moment to process what’s happening.
“Congrats, Q! You did it!” He pulls back, his grin bursting with pride. “And I recorded the homestretch for Brynn, otherwise she’d kill me.”
“I recorded it, too. For Mom and Dad.” Matt stuffs his phone back in his pocket while I stare, completely dumbfounded. “They wanted to be here but send their congrats.”
“Yeah, congratulations,” Veronica says with a smidge less sincerity. “I honestly didn’t think you’d finish.”
I choose to overlook that comment, too thrilled to see them. “I can’t believe you guys came all the way out here to watch my race.” When I’d mentioned the marathon as part of my Christmas Commitments accountability, I had zero inkling they might show up.
“Of course we did. It’s not every day your little sister runs a marathon.” Matt beams at me, and there isn’t a hint of irony or sarcasm in his voice. I expect him to follow up with something snarky, or a veiled insult, at least. But he doesn’t.
To my embarrassment, my throat tightens. Tears simmer beneath the surface, but if I cry now, that will surely unleash the teasing. So, I do my best to tamp down my emotions. “Thanks. It means a lot to me that you’re here.”
“Well,” Veronica quips, “Dad offered to pay for our tickets, so we’d be crazy to pass up a free trip to New York.”
Ah, good ol’ Veronica. Leave it to sister dearest to put a damper on a perfect moment. But even so, they’re here. And I choose to focus on the positive.
“He’s also paying for dinner,” Matt adds. “I’ve already made reservations at the hottest restaurant in the city.”
“Oh.” I glance at Ethan, instantly torn. I don’t want to interfere with his plans. I’ve been looking forward to them all day. But Matt has never done anything this nice before. And when you’ve waited your whole life for a gesture like this one, it’s hard to turn it down.
Ethan seems to read my mind. “That sounds great, Matt. Quincy deserves it. You guys have fun.”
His generous and selfless heart never ceases to amaze me. “Matt,” I say, linking my arm with Ethan’s. “Can you add one more to your reservation? Ethan deserves a celebratory dinner as much as I do. Without his training, I never would’ve made it this far.”
“No problem. I’ll call right now.” Matt digs out his phone again.
“Thanks, Q.” Ethan squeezes my arm. “I have to make a call, too. Excuse me a sec.” He steps a few feet out of earshot, and my heart sinks a little. He’s probably calling to cancel our dinner plans. Once again, I feel like I’m faced with a choice between my old life back home and my new one in New York. My old, lifelong desires and my newly realized ones.
“All set,” Matt says crisply. “Our reservation is at seven.”
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“It’s a surprise. But you’re going to love it.” Matt puffs out his chest a little when he tells me, “I had to pull some major strings to get us in.”
I feel the telltale tears threatening to spoil the moment again. Despite extending several invitations over the years, I’ve never shared a meal with my siblings without our parents being present. And to think, tonight we’re not only having dinner together, it’s a celebratory dinner in my honor. I could pinch myself, but then I’d also have to kick myself for ruining a good thing. “Do you want to come see the apartment? You can meet Wilson and Whiskers.” I hold my breath, hopeful the dream will continue. I’d love to share this part of my life with them.
Matt looks like he’s about to accept, but Veronica cuts in. “We need to check into the hotel. We’ll meet you at the restaurant, okay?”
“Okay.” I smile, suppressing my disappointment with the reminder that it’s a miracle they’re even here at all. “See you then.” We’re not really a hugging family, but I lean in for one, anyway. Veronica stiffens, but it could be because I’m damp with sweat.
Matt, on the other hand, gives me a big bear hug, the kind that lifts my feet off the ground. “Congrats again, Quince. You looked great out there.” His words wrap around me like a thick blanket, and even when he sets me back down, my arms linger a little before letting go.
On the walk home, I feel like I’m floating, buoyed by both my own personal achievement and the miraculous appearance of my siblings. I can’t stop babbling about the race and bouncing on my toes in excitement. Ethan matches my enthusiasm, although he warns me that once the euphoria wears off, every inch of my body will be sore. To help curb the inflammation and replenish my nutrients, he advises a cool shower, and fixes me this odd concoction of oats, peanut butter, sliced banana, and some other ingredients I don’t recognize, which turns out to be surprisingly delicious for something so healthy.
To Ethan, these probably feel like small, simple gestures, nothing more than helping out a friend. But to me, they’re everything. I’ve never felt more cared for than during the months I’ve spent here with Ethan. And in a family that’s always trying to get ahead of the other person, to be thebest, it’s almost surreal to have someone put your needs above their own.
Like tonight, for example. Ethan didn’t hesitate to set aside his own plans in favor of Matt’s, knowing how much my brother’s efforts mean to me. Even though there’s a part of me that feels foolish to hope, I still can’t extinguish the dream that one day, my siblings and I will have a relationship like his and Brynn’s. And as we walk into the restaurant to meet them, I instinctively grab Ethan’s hand. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For this. For coming here. Forbeinghere.” Suddenly, I have this overwhelming urge to pour out my heart, to say all the things I’ve thought over the past few months, but never had the courage to say out loud.
But the moment passes, and Ethan is holding open the door for me. “I’m honored to tag along.” He grins, giving off a sort of casual, teasing vibe, like a joke between friends.
But as I brush past him into the restaurant, he leans in and whispers so close to my ear, I can feel his breath on my neck, “You look incredible, by the way.” His voice is low, gravelly, and anything but casual.
