Page 60 of Betting on Lizzie

“I didn’t want to open a can of worms in front of the whole family,” Lucy said. “But I’m worried about you. Are you okay?”

Lizzie didn’t need an explanation. She meant the Ben situation.

“It was a fling,” Lizzie said. “We flung, and it’s over.”

“I think it was more than a fling,” Lucy said, giving her a look that said she’d already used her twin superpower to get into Lizzie’s head.

“Sometimes sharing a brain with you is annoying.”

“You’re miserable. You’ve never been so affected by a breakup. What does that tell you?”

“My Grinchy heart grew three sizes over Christmas? Just in time to break?”

“You love him.”

“What? No I don’t.”

Lucy raised her eyebrows. “Scooch,” she said, wedging herself into Lizzie’s chair.

“I don’t think you and those knockers will both fit,” Lizzie said, moving over. The sofa chair was made for one, but wide enough for them both if they squeezed. “Whaddya carrying a gallon of milk in there?”

Lucy laughed. “I know. They’re so huge.” Once she’d settled in, she turned serious. “Talk to me.”

“It hurts,” Lizzie whispered. “I’ve never felt like this before.”

“Is this about him having lunch with that woman? I told you what Jack found out at poker—that Ben only went because Maya told him you’d had coffee with someone the week before, leading him to believe you were dating other people. It was all a misunderstanding.”

“Maybe this time,” Lizzie said. “But he’ll hurt me eventually. Why stick around to find out when?”

“You’re pushing him away because you’re scared.”

“Of?”

“Liking him too much. Being hurt. Being in love.”

Lizzie huffed. “If this is what love feels like, I’ll pass.”

“Where did this fierce independence come from?”

“Rage against being a twin,” Lizzie teased.

“Wha—” Lucy feigned indignation.

“No offense. But you know what I mean. How we were always lumped together?”

“I get it,” Lucy said. “Look, you’re worried Ben will hurt you. But you don’t know that. You have to try. Take a leap. That’s what love is.”

Lizzie stared straight ahead, not sure what to say to that. She liked Ben, but love him? That seemed like a stretch. Lucy grabbed her hand, laid her head on Lizzie’s shoulder, and continued. “I always assumed you just picked losers or were too finicky with men. But I’m beginning to think you purposely push men away. Like you’re afraid of being happy.”

Lizzie stayed quiet. That was exactly what she did, and she was surprised Lucy hadn’t figured it out sooner.

“Jack thought maybe you’d been hurt…”

“Jack should mind his own business.”

“I said there was no way. You’d have told me, or I’d have sensed it, but now, I’m thinking he’s right. You know you can tell me anything. What happened?”

Lizzie sighed, resigned to getting it all out. “It’s not that dramatic,” she said. “You remember Riley? My high school boyfriend senior year.”

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