Page 59 of Little Do You Know

“That was the point, Lia. My coaches, your parents, and Owen are the only people who knew. You’re the only one who knows how bad it’s getting. They know the diagnosis but think it’s still in the early stages. Mimi’s the most important person in my life, and no one knows that Mimi hardly knows who I am anymore. It’s not easy losing the last person in my family, and…telling people makes it a reality. Most of the time, she doesn’t recognize me.”

“I can’t even imagine what you’re going through, but I’m here if you need me. Thank you for trusting me.”

“I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you, but I couldn’t say it. Saying it makes it feel real, and I’m not ready.” Bash looks at me for the first time since getting in the car. He’s terrified, and I wish I could help. There’s nothing I can say or do to make this better for him.

“You’re doing the best you can.”

Sebastian does the last thing I expect him to do by smiling at me. “Thank you for coming today. I know it wasn’t easy, but please do not hold the last part against her.”

“I would never. Mimi can’t control it. Of course, I would come. I want to know everything about you, Bash. Despite how hard today was, sharing this part of your world with me means more than you could ever know.”

He looks back at the home, squeezing my hand again. “Today was the first time since the end of June that she’s been lucid longer than a few minutes. I’m glad you saw her as the person she used to be and that she remembered you for a little bit. I’m usually either my grandpa or my dad when I come here. My dad’s name was Mark. Based on the pictures I’ve seen, I look just like him. You don’t look anything like my mom. Her hair was the same color as mine, so I understand her confusion with you being blonde.” That makes so much more sense. Carly was his mom.

“Is it weird?” I ask cautiously because I’ve never heard him speak about his mom. Like ever. In the handful of times his parents have been brought up over the years, it’s usually about his dad playing football.

“It is. Pretending to be someone I don’t remember is hard, but if it makes her happy, I do it.” The mood in the car is so somber that I can’t help trying to think of something that will cheer him up. I lean across the center console to kiss him on the cheek.

“What do you say we get out of here and get some ice cream?”

It causes Sebastian to smile and laugh, which is more than I could have asked for.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Thalia

I KNOCK HESITANTLY on the door of Blake’s dorm room. “Blake? Is it cool if I come in?” I don’t hear a response, so I open the door anyway. She’s sitting on the bed, absorbed in her homework, with headphones in. I guess it is good that I came in because I’d be standing out there all day if I didn’t.

You can tell where the separation in the room is between her and her roommate. The other side is a complete disaster, filled with all things sorority. Blake’s side is spotless and very…Blake. The same textbooks I helped her pick up the first day we met are stacked on her desk.

I climb onto her lofted bed, scaring the hell out of her as she gapes at me.

“What the fuck, Lia? A little warning next time,” she says, holding a hand to her chest. “I think my heart stopped beating.”

“If you didn’t want anyone coming in, you should have locked the door.” I roll my eyes and lean back against the wall. “When I saw Owen with a clean-shaven face this morning before they left, I had to come and find out if you were the reason why.”

Blake sighs, putting her hair up. “I broke up with Thomas,” she confirms what I suspected, and I give her a sympathetic smile.

“Kinda figured. Does this have something to do with your trip last weekend?”

“Two weekends ago,” she corrects before nodding. “I love Thomas; I think I always will because he was my first love. He isn’t the same guy he used to be, or maybe I’m not the same person I used to be. It’s not fair to him if I’m here falling for someone else while we’re still together.”

This is the first time Blake is acknowledging anything about reciprocating Owen’s feelings. I wasn’t expecting this today.

“Don’t look at me like that. I know I’m a horrible person.”

Okay, clearly, I need to fix my face faster. “No, Blake. I don’t think you’re a horrible person. Distance is hard. It’s okay for people to outgrow each other. I’m surprised. I didn’t know you felt that way about Owen?” I fumble over my words, possibly trying too hard to overcorrect from the shock on my face before.

“I know he’s your brother, so I’m sorry if this is weird. I’m being stupid; I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

Blake looks back down at her textbook, wiping tears away, and my heart hurts for her. “You’re not being stupid. I’m sorry you guys broke up, but that doesn’t mean you have to jump into anything. My brother’s an idiot, but he cares about you. I think he would wait for you to be ready, and if he doesn’t, it’s his loss.” Oh, if I could kick my brother right now, I would. I need to talk to Bash and have him tell Owen to break this shit with Amelia off. I know he cares about Blake. I have no doubt he’d jump at the chance to be with her, but will Blake want to be with Owen after how weird he’s been acting lately?

She doesn’t miss a beat with his idiocy, pointing out the very thing he will regret. “I can really tell how much Owen cares. He cares so much he went back to Amelia! She cheated on him!”

I can’t help but laugh because it is an excellent point. “I told you he’s an idiot. I’m by no means an expert at relationships; I actually suck at them. I can’t explain the whole thing with Amelia, but the way Bash tries explaining it to me is Owen is or was sexually frustrated?” I make a face, disgusted that I have to defend his stupidity right now. “I don’t think he’s actually with her if that makes things better?”

“So if I don’t sleep with him right away, he’ll keep sleeping with her?” she asks, and I realize I probably could have worded that better.

“No, that’s not what that means. It’s what? October? I think he’s doing his best not to pressure you into making a decision regarding your now ex-boyfriend. Owen has been interested in you since I first brought you home. I don’t try to understand my brother, but my best guess is that Owen needed to take his mind off you to prevent crossing any lines. Now, why hasn’t he ditched her yet? He’s being a boy and thinking with his dick.”

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