Page 258 of Hooking Up

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Her steps slow. She presses her lips together. "I never thought I'd see you here again."

"Me either."

Her voice is sincere. "Is everything okay with Iris?"

"Maybe. That's not why I'm here. At least not the main reason." I run my hand through my hair. This is not my strong suit. But I need to do it. "I'm sorry, Bree. I've been an ass to you."

"I deserved it."

"Maybe. But you were right. I wasn't gonna forgive you. Or myself. I was sure you'd keep fucking up. That can't have helped."

"I… I don't know what to say."

"I'm glad you're doing well. It means the fucking world to me."

Any nervousness falls from her expression. Her lips press into a smile. Her eyes fill with relief. "Really?"

"Yeah." I pull my sister into a hug.

She squeezes back. "Does this mean you're coming to Thanksgiving?"

"I think so."

"And Sunday dinners?"

I laugh as I step backward. "Maybe."

"Mom will be over the moon."

"I only said maybe."

Her smile spreads over her cheeks. "You said it like a yes."

I smile too. I want that. I want things to be okay with us. With my parents.

She takes in my expression. "No offense, but you look miserable."

"I am."

"We have coffee. Good coffee. Most people here drink a ton of it. Or smoke. Or both." She moves closer to the table. Grabs a paper cup and fills it with java. "You still take it black?"

"Yeah, thanks."

She hands me the first cup, turns back to the table to pour a second. "What happened with Iris?"

"It's a long story."

She fixes her coffee with half-and-half and sugar. "What's the short version?"

"I thought I didn't care about anything that had happened before. That the past was the past. I told her as much every time she tried to confess. I stopped her."

She nodsunderstandable.

"But I did care."

"Of course."

"Why?" I need to understand this. I need to know how I could have meant those words when they feel like such bullshit now.

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