Page 36 of Made Over by Meredith

“Nothing?” she repeated skeptically. “You’ve been out of sorts for two weeks over nothing?”

“You know, I thought you would’ve taken umbrage with me and one of your brothers,” I said, attempting to throw her off.

“Why?”

“Because…” I held my arms out at my sides. Wasn’t it obvious?

“Because you’re my best friend, and I love you, and if one of my stupid brothers wanted to love you, I would be really happy.”

“Well, you have one brother who isn’t stupid.”

She clucked her tongue, her head tipping to the side. “And that’s why.”

“Why what?”

“Why you kicked him out. Why you won’t let yourself be happy. Because he’s not stupid, and he has feelings for you, and you have no excuses to let yourself be loved.”

“That’s…” I huffed, waving my hand.

“That’s exactly right. I don’t know why I didn’t think of you two together before. You and Aiden would be really good together.”

I frowned. “We aren’t good together.”

“Yeah, you are. You’re both driven and really smart. He’s more introverted for your extrovert, but he’s got a backbone and won’t back down to you.”

I huffed again, trying not to swallow my tongue as I struggled to come up with an argument.

“He’d be really good for you, goodtoyou.”

I dug the toe of my show into the pavement. “That’s not… I don’t…” I rubbed at my nose, at the building sting there. “He’s too good, and I’m…”

“And you’re perfect for him,” she said, stepping into my space, forcing my chin up, and I bit my lip to keep it from quivering.

“What if he realizes he doesn’t like what’s underneath?”

Claire didn’t answer, only hugged me, rubbing her hands up and down my back. It was Jimmy who spoke. “I’m sure you know this about Aiden already, but he’s a lot like Claire. They are both way conscientious about their choices, but he’s way worse.”

Claire shifted away from me to bat at him, but he grinned at her. “I love you, and I love your brother, and I love that neither one of you does anything without thoroughly analyzing the decision. That’s how I know you really want something.” Jimmy met my eyes, and I blinked away the tears forming in the corners. “I can guarantee he’s seen what’s underneath, and he loves it. Or he wouldn’t have brought your favorite donuts and coffee to your house. He wouldn’t have said all the things I know he told you.”

Claire spun on Jimmy. “I can’t believe you know all of this and didn’t tell me.”

He hugged her to his chest, kissing the top of her head. “He made me promise, and you know I’m a sucker for happy endings.”

They both turned to face me then. As if waiting to see if what kind of ending I’d chose.

I sniffed and cleared my throat. “I’m going home to change. I will meet you tonight.”

Jimmy thrust his fist to the sky, and Claire smiled. “We’ll pick you up in an hour. No getting away.”

I nodded. No. I didn’t want to get away.

I slipped into my car and headed home, where I cried in the shower, giving into the emotion I refused to face for the last two weeks. Or, really, my lifetime.

I wasn’t used to letting it out, but I knew I had to if I wanted to move on. If I wanted to be happy, I had to let the past hurt go.

Drying and styling my hair took a good half an hour, and I’d barely had my jeans pulled up my legs before Claire texted that she and Jimmy were parked outside. I stuffed my keys, phone, and wallet in my cross body and jogged outside.

I sprawled in the back as Claire twisted around in the passenger seat. “You look cute.”

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