Page 41 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
I eye my sister, wondering what she could possibly need, but when she takes off down the corridor, I follow.
She stops at the stairs that lead up to the hay loft. “I just wanted to check on you,” she says. “How is it having her home again?”
“Well, it’s only been about four hours, so how about you ask me next week?”
She rolls her eyes. “You’ve known about her being in town longer than that though. And she showed up on the trail? Were you totally stunned?”
I run a hand through my hair. “Yeah. I was—it’s still weird, honestly. Like any minute she might disappear, and I’ll realize it’s all a dream.”
Her expression shifts, her eyes filling with worry. “Brody, I know you. If you spend time with her, you’re going to start to hope. You know you will.”
My jaw tightens. “I’m fine, Liv. I’ve got things under control.”
She lifts an accusatory eyebrow. “That display I saw earlier with you two laughing like a bunch of teenagers didn’t look like it.”
“It was an inside joke.”
“Oh, right. That makes it totally innocent.” She props her hands on her hips, obviously warming to the subject. “You should have seen her when I asked her about your glow up. She was all flustered and talking over herself in this weird squeaky voice. I think she might be attracted to you.”
“I thought you were telling menotto get my hopes up.”
“That’s just it. When I thought Kate was never going to love you back—”
I grab her arm and tug her further down the corridor. “You want to talk a little louder, Liv?” I whisper yell. I glance down the corridor, but all of Kate’s attention is still on Penelope.
“When I thought Kate wasn’t going to love you back,” she repeats, her voice softer but no less stern, “I worried about you because unrequited love really sucks. But you know what sucks more? Experiencing love, and then having it ripped away.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying if Kate is actually into you, and you go for it, and it’s the most amazing summer of your life, blah, blah, blah? Do you honestly think she’ll stay? I’ve never known anyone so bent on getting out of town, Brody. Even if she does feel something, I don’t see her changing. I don’t see herstaying.”
“I appreciate the concern. I do. But I’m fine, Liv. You have to trust me on this. I’m fine.”
She looks about as convinced as I feel, but what would she have me do? I’m not going tonotspend time with Kate.
“Listen to me. I want you to have what I have. And I know you want that too.” She grips my arms, just above the elbow, giving them a quick squeeze. “But I don’t think Kate is that person foryou. You are worth staying for. You deserve someone who sees that.”
“Hey, Liv!” Tyler calls from Penelope’s stall. “Can you come film this? Stuff is starting to happen.”
Olivia takes a deep breath, her gaze lifting to the ceiling. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I have to go livestream the birth of my husband’s grand-goat for his millions of TikTok followers.”
I smile. “And I’m the one you’re worried about?”
“Just be careful, all right? And think about what I said.”
I nod, but she’s already stalking down the corridor, pulling out her phone.
I know there’s validity to Olivia’s point. And I can’t fault my family for worrying. But as Kate and I take Charlie and drive back home, it isn’t Olivia’s warning that I’m thinking about. It’s Monica’s encouragement and Olivia saying Kate was flustered when they talked about me.
I’m doing exactly the thing my family doesn’t want me to do. I’m starting to hope.
Maybe things can be different.
Maybe she’ll change her mind.
Maybe this time . . . she’ll stay.
Chapter Twelve
