Page 115 of Since We're Here
Ouch.
“At the time, yes, but it was the right one. Because what I’ve learned over the past month is that I love working in pubs. Restaurants. Whatever. And school isn’t for me.”
I feel more confident talking about this part. This is something I did figure out while in Dingle. What I want to be doing with my career.
“Hmm.”
“Also... it was more than just a hookup with Patrick.” I might not have evidence, but as my sister, maybe she’ll understand.
She breathes in loudly through the phone. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I nod my head even though she can’t see me, and she pauses a beat before responding.
“So what happened? Are you still with him?”
“No. It ended. He pushed me away. It was too much, too fast.I’mtoo much. As always.”
“Maddie. You are never too much.”
“Always a bridesmaid.”
“I mean, technically, you are a bridesmaid this time,” Reese says.
I let out a giggle, and she joins me for a beat. Then tears spring to my eyes.
I give her some details, including the story about the first night we kissed. She laughs and groans at the right spots. Then lets out an appropriateawwwhen I tell her about how he took care of me after the bike accident, his cottage, his pet sheep, his nieces.
As we talk, relief slowly seeps through my body, releasing the tension and stress from not only today, but the past few weeks. Months.
Why have I been so afraid to tell her what’s going on?
“You know I’ll support you through whatever, Maddie. I’m sorry you didn’t think you could talk to me.”
“I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“Oh, little sister. I just want you to be happy. To find your way, your place in the world. That’s no easy thing.”
I can’t help but think how happy and settled she and Stella both are. Careers, significant others, where they live. They’re so confident in their choices.
“I can’t believe you found me through location tracking.” I sigh. “I didn’t even think to turn it off.”
“What about all those freaking pictures? Sunsets, sand, surf?”
“Screenshots from the internet. Oh, except for the pub. That is actually O’Brien’s. I was afraid you’d show it to Oliver and he’d recognize the background.”
“You are such an asshole.”
We both burst into laughter.
“Wait. how long have you been in London with Stella?” She gasps, as if she’s figuring it all out. “She’s been lying to me, too?”
Oh, shit.
31
PATRICK
Saturday, 19 April
