Page 228 of Love in Riverbend
“I never technically said he was at Ball State. You used context clues to assume that part.”
“Handsome and smooth-talking…Ricky?” Her voice goes higher as she says her brother’s name.
“Okay, that part was a lie.” It wasn’t when I said it. “Your brother is a total ass, and I’m sorry, Dev, but I’m not even going to play nice for you and Justin anymore. I hope I never see him as long as I live.”
“Oh my God!” she screams. “You like him. You really like him.”
Is she even listening?
“No, Devan. The opposite.”
“No. I know you. I lived with you for four years. If you don’t like someone, you forget they exist. Remember that guy from your calculus class our freshman year? You simply pretended to no longer share the same air. And then there was the guy our junior year you met in swimming class.”
“What an asinine class for college students.”
“Yeah,” she goes on, “but you really liked him. When he turned into a jerk, you swore you hated him. That’s what you do when you like someone.”
“I love you, Dev. Stick to teaching. Psychology isn’t your forte.”
“Justin told me what happened—what happened last night.” Her voice is quieter and pathetically appeasing.
“I’m fine. It was a good reminder of what a total jackass your brother is. I won’t forget it again.”
“You aren’t fine. Come down here for the weekend. Jill will be here for her niece’s birthday.”
I’d forgotten Jill telling me about that. “I don’t think going back to my childhood bedroom will make this better.”
“Then stay with us. We have extra rooms. I’ll have Jill come over, and the three of us can come clean about all the things we haven’t told one another.”
“I think that’s the only one, for me.” I swallow. “I’m sorry, Dev. He’s your brother. I was… Well, afterward, I was ashamed and embarrassed. He still thought of me as a kid, and honestly, when he realized he was my first, he freaked out.”
“Gosh, sounds absolutely orgasmic.”
A laugh comes from my throat. “It wasn’t. I bet he’d be a lot better now.” What did I just say? “Nope. That wasn’t me talking. Someone must have cut into our call.”
“Think about it. Justin and I would love to show you the things we’ve done with the house. We can sit by the fire and drink spiked cider.”
“With cinnamon?” I ask.
“Of course.”
“You’re not mad at me?”
“I am,” she says. “But now that you know I am, I can get over it. Mostly, I want to give you a hug and tell you that I love you.”
Tears sting my eyes. “I could use a hug.”
Driving to Riverbend would be better than sitting in my apartment, wondering about Ricky’s dinner and feeling guilty for not following through on my promise to help him. Those thoughts remind me of the letter in front of me.
Tucking my phone between my cheek and shoulder, I open the envelope, remove the page, and unfold it. My gaze goes to the bottom of the paper. Signed—Ricky.
“Dev, I’ll call you back and let you know my decision. I have another few hours here at work.”
“Okay, I’m going to stop at the grocery store and stock up on the best drinks and snacks for girl time.”
“What about Justin?”
“He can be our sexy waiter.”
