Page 59 of Lotus

“… Oliver is the smartest person I know.”

“He’s book smart. He’s not street smart.”

“Two,” I continue, ignoring him. “The only way Oliver is going to learn and ‘get on his feet’ is to have experiences. Heaskedme to kiss him, Gabe.”

“Sydney…”

“And three,” I bark, pressing my index finger to my opposite ring finger, venom spilling from my eyes. “Don’t talk about my tongue like that.”

Gabe’s arms are crossed as he leans back in his booth, his jaw tight, one eyebrow raised. “Are you done?”

I stab my enchilada, pretending it’s Gabe’s stupid face. “Yes.”

“I wasn’t trying to be a dick,” he insists, a sigh of surrender escaping him. “You have a nice tongue.”

“Don’t be gross.”

Stab.

A smile flickers, then dissolves. “Listen, Iknowyou, Sydney… you have walls up. You don’t get attached, and that’s great, more power to you, but…” He lowers his eyes, as if he’s afraid to see my reaction. “Oliver’s walls are a lot thinner than yours. It won’t take much to break through them.”

My fist squeezes the end of my fork as I pin my steely gaze across the table. “What does that mean?”

A sharp look, and then, “It means… you hold the sledgehammer, Syd. One wrong swing and he’s going to fall.”

A lump forms in the back of my throat, causing my voice to crack. “You’re overreacting. I don’t have that much power.”

“I’ve seen the way he looks at you. You haveallthe power.”

My fork hits the table, and I start sifting through my wallet, pulling out a twenty-dollar bill. I toss it at Gabe. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. It’s great to know where I stand.”

“Come on, don’t take this personally. I’m just looking out for my brother.”

I heave my purse strap over my shoulder and rise from the booth. “So am I.”

“Sydney…”

“Don’t!” I spin around, garnering the attention of patrons and wait staff, but I don’t even care. “Don’t tell me you’re looking out for him now, when I was the only onestill lookingfor him after everybody else had given up.”

Gabe’s jade eyes, normally bright and good-natured, turn to stone. “That’s a low blow.”

My heart clenches, a touch of regret piercing through my shield, little by little. I want to take it back, but I don’t. I’m too pissed to lower my flag. “Enjoy your lunch, Gabe.”

I storm out of the restaurant.

Screw this.

I waited twenty-two years to get Oliver Lynch back, and I refuse to go another day with awkward interactions and superficial conversation. We’ve come too far.

He’scome too far.

Gabe’s car isn’t in the driveway when I head next door, and I’m grateful for that. I’m still reeling from our argument this afternoon. Weneverfight. We bicker and tease and give each other shit, but we never fight dirty like that.

My anxiety is spiking to dangerous levels, so it’s time to tidy up one of these messes.

I tap my knuckles against the familiar mahogany door, my insides twisting with nerves when I hear footsteps approach a few moments later. Oliver cracks the door open, peering out, like he’s hesitant to find out who’s on the other side.

Just good ol’ Sydney Neville with her sledgehammer and complicated tongue.

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