Page 83 of Restricted List

“You got it, man. I’ll see you then.”

“See ya, Ari.”

After I disconnect the call, I lean back against the kitchen wall and take a deep breath.

Ari might be right.

I need to talk to Rory and tell her what I want.

This week is going to be busy, though. With Josh and Ella’s wedding on Saturday, we’ve all got things to do to get ready for this weekend since our friend group is literally the entirety of the wedding party.

I probably won’t be able to talk to Rory much until the rehearsal dinner on Friday. So, I’ll just have to talk to her after that.

The silence is broken by a loud knock at my door. Who’s here this early on a Sunday?

I make my way to the foyer and swing the front door open to find my sister on the other side, arms crossed.

Oh fuck.

I really hope this isn’t because she found out about Rory and me.

“Hey, Lo,” I say, pretending I have any semblance of composure. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

She walks under my arm and right into my living room, taking a seat on the couch. I join her with nervous steps.

“Is everything alright? You seem really tense right now.”

Harlow lets out a breath, and her face softens. “Cole, what the hell has been going on with you? I feel like I’ve barely talked to you over the past two weeks. It seems like you’re avoiding me.”

I am.

Not for any reason other than I don’t know what to fucking say to her.

I’ve canceled our past two Wednesday breakfasts. I’ve barely texted her. I haven’t called her at all. We talked briefly at Rory’s birthday party, but I avoided her most of that night, too.

I’m currently vying for the title of World’s Worst Brother.

“I’m not avoiding you,” I say, with no conviction to my tone whatsoever.

“I’m not buying it.” She crosses her arms again. “I know you’re being weird about something. I asked Knox if he had any idea why, and I had never seen that man change the subject faster. Something happened; my boyfriend knows what, and neither of you is telling me anything.”

If she’s only talking about Knox and me, that means Rory is acting normally.

How the fuck is Rory acting normally around my sister right now?!

I sigh, defeated by the knowledge that I’m going to have to tell Harlow what happened.

“Something did happen,” I say quietly.

“And my boyfriend knows before me? You tell me everything, Cole.” She looks hurt; I can see the emotions on her face.

“It was something I drunkenly told the guys at Josh’s bachelor party. That’s why Knox knows.”

“What happened? Did something happen between you and Rory?” Harlow’s voice is actually concerned as if she thinks we had a falling out or something.

“Y-yes,” I stammer. “Something happened with Rory.”

My nervousness must tell her that there was no fight. Understanding washes over her, and her hand flies up to cover the wide smile stretching across her face.

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