Page 137 of We Met Like This
“I didn’t think that mattered.” She set her latest scraped plate on the counter.
I sighed. “Audrey. Of course, it matters. Don’t you understand? My whole life, everything I’ve done was to try to make you proud of me. I looked up to you so much. Everything you said held more weight in my life than anything anyone else said. Including myself. I never had to really think things through or analyze what exactly I wanted because I had you for that. And then my life imploded and I had to figure some things out. And I did. I wasn’t trying to hurt you in the process, I was just trying to find me.”
She met my eyes, and hers were shining with held-back emotion, all the dirty plates now on the counter waiting to be loaded into the dishwasher. “And did you?”
“I think so. I’m still working on it. And even though what I found might not have been the way you would’ve done my life or the things you would’ve picked for me, I hope you can be happy for me.”
“You really do think I’m a bitch, don’t you?” she said, a tear escaping from her eye and trailing down her cheek.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen my sister cry. “No! I don’t. I really don’t.”
“Of course I’m happy for you, Margot,” she said.
“I’m Margot now?”
“I don’t know. What do you want me to call you? Maggie was your childhood name.”
“I’m good with Maggie. Just from you, though.”
She stepped forward and brought me into a hug. “I’m sorry. I was only ever trying to help. I didn’t mean to make you unsure of yourself.”
“I know,” I said, hugging her back.
“I’m not as confident as you think I am,” she said. “Half the time I’m faking it.”
“Aren’t we all,” I said. “It’s good to know you’re human.”
She pulled back and looked at me. “You have such an easygoing, fun nature. Quick to laugh, quick to make friends. I was always jealous of that.”
“You were?”
She nodded and pulled gently on the end of my hair hanging over my shoulder. “I’m so proud of you. Always have been.”
Great, now she was going to make me cry. Not hard to do, but still.
“Everything okay in here?” Mom asked, coming in the back door.
“We’re good,” I said, then looked at Audrey.
“So good,” Audrey said. “Is everyone ready for dessert?”
“Yes, I’ll help,” Mom said, then to me, “You should go rescue your boyfriend.”
“Does he need rescuing?” I asked, my eyes darting to the window.
“Dad is asking him to explain coding in detail.”
I laughed, gave Audrey’s hand one last squeeze, and then rejoined Oliver outside. They must’ve moved past the coding talk, because Chase and Dad were discussing the last T-ball game while the boys ran circles on the grass.
I sat on Oliver’s lap, wrapped my arms around his neck, and pressed my cheek against his.
His arms immediately went around my waist. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, I’m glad we came,” I said.
“Me too,” he said. “I like your family.”
“I like you,” I said.
