Page 137 of Need You to Choose Me

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It’s been anhour since Berlin, Skylar, and I started studying at Berlin’s apartment together. But I don’t know how much studying we’ve actually done by the time we stopped snacking on the wild assortment of items we all brought with us. It’s either the sugar or something else making Skylar fidget across from me.

“Are you high?” I ask her, tapping my highlighter against my textbook. “You haven’t sat still since we got here.”

Berlin perks up from the notecards she’s been reading over. “If you’re high, you better share. I haven’t smoked in way too long. My mom told me I needed to ‘relax on the reefer’ before I fry my braincells. Total buzzkill.”

Skylar doesn’t look surprised by that at all. Then again, neither am I. Berlin is a free spirit. She’s admitted to trying mushrooms before, so smoking pot seems like an obvious indulgence for her. “I haven’t smoked pot before.”

Berlin’s eyes bulge. “Never?”

“Never,” she confirms.

“Me neither,” I pipe in, earning me an equal stare in disbelief. “It smells bad. Maybe if it was an edible I’d like it. Who doesn’t enjoy brownies?”

Skylar nods, pointing her pen at me. “True. They have lollipops too. I do love suckers.”

Berlin tries getting our attention back, dropping her cards onto the table. “How have I not been able to corrupt you in this field yet? I feel like I’ve failed.”

“Maybe it’s because we wouldn’t accept brownies from you after hearing your laxative story,” I quip.

Skylar hums. “I don’t think I can trust you offering me a cookie, much less a brownie.”

Berlin groans. “That was one time!”

I turn back to Skylar. “If you’re not high, why are you so fidgety? What aren’t you telling us?”

Berlin seems interested enough to let go of our previous conversation. “Yeah, you have been acting weird. Are you pregnant again? Because there have been studies that siblings get along better with small age gaps between them. I read about it in my child adolescence class.”

Sometimes I forget she’s studying to be a teacher. It’s both terrifying and perfect at the same time.

“I’m not pregnant.” She shoots Berlin a look.

“Then what?” I pry.

Her teeth bite down onto her lower lip. “It’s not official yet but…” She sets her pen down and sets her hands into her lap. “We bought a house.”

My eyes widen. She told me a month ago that they weren’t completely sold on any that they’ve seen. “What? When? Which one? That’s so exciting, Sky!”

“Isn’t that good news?” Berlin asks, her brows pinching when she sees Skylar’s expression. Why does my best friend look like she wants to cry?

Skylar nods slowly. “It is, but it’s scary. I don’t have a job yet, and I’m probably not going to be able to get one that contributes to the bills like Danny can. He’s getting his inheritance soon, and the number is… a lot. Like a lot, a lot. And his family and my family are making plans to move closer to us so they can be around Bentley.”

I reach out to her, seeing the glaze in her eyes that’s bound to spill over. “That’sgood. You’ve been missing your family.”

“I know I have been. Dad is opening a financial advising business here like the one he has in California. He’s planning on running it locally and having his COO take over the one on the West Coast.” Her eyes water. “It just seems like a fever dream, you know? I came to Lindon to get away from them and get out of my sister’s shadows and now…”

“They’re coming to support you,” Berlin finishes for her. “I think that’s sweet.”

I squeeze her hand. “You okay?”

She wets her lips. “Yes. Sorry. I don’t know why I’m so emotional. It isn’t like they never loved me. It just feels full circle for them to come to me and support what I’m building here. I’m lucky.”

A tear falls down her cheek that she quickly swipes away.

Berlin stares at her. “You sure you’re not pregnant? You’re not normally this emotional.”

Skylar laugh-snorts. “God, I hope not.”

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