“I was being polite and courteous.”
“When you all but banged her up against the side of your car?”
Carefully, very carefully, he put down his wine.“You saw?”
“Nathan, too.He was walking me to my car.He had to work fast so that Grandfather didn’t see you.He wanted to leave so he could go train for his five-k walk.You were so fixed on Lara that you never saw us leave the house.And she certainly looked as if she were a willing participant.So you can tell yourself whatever story you want, big brother, but something happened, and my friend is still upset.Now excuse me while I get her stuff.Do you still have the boxes?Or should I use bags?”
“Pantry,” he replied.
She stood, hands on her hips.“Do you want to get them?”Without waiting for a response, she went into his bedroom.
By the time he got there with two boxes, she had Lara’s clothing and personal effects spread out across his bed.
“You know, Conn, you could do this yourself.”Her voice was softer than it had been since she arrived.“Take it to her, talk to her.”
He shook his head, but he helped her pack it up.He sealed the boxes, then carried them down to her car.
After the last one was loaded, she looked at him.“I’m not sure what you’re afraid of.Aunt Kathryn and I have been worried about you for a long time.Since Dad.It’s okay to live.To move on.”
“I have.I just remember the lessons.”
“What lessons?”she asked.As they’d been working, her hair had come loose from a clip, and she took it out then re-secured it.
“The same ones we all learned.”
“Which ones?”She frowned.“Everyone reacts differently.Grandfather decided to start focusing on his health so he’ll be around a lot longer.Aunt Kathryn’s learned to seize every moment, and that’s why she’s going to say fuck us all—and whatever we think—to run off with a guy thirty-something years younger than she is.As for me?I’ve learned that life is too short to stay on the sidelines.I’m going to give my friend a shot at opening her corset shop.Maybe I’m reckless, like Nathan says, but you know what?I don’t care.If I burn through my money, I’ll figure something else out.So tell me again, Connor.What’s the lesson?”
He scowled.
She kissed his cheek.“You don’t have to go through your life being a dumbnuts.Relax a little.You don’t have to be responsible for the whole world.The earth was in orbit when we got here, and it will be here when we leave.I love you.”She got in her car.Before pulling away, she paused to wave.
Despite what she’d said, Connor wasn’t persuaded.
Lara might have believed that she loved him.But he lived every day with the damages of trusting that seductive emotion.
In retrospect, the way she’d handled it was probably best.If she was in love with him, then it was better that they’d ended it now.
He went back inside to take a shower.Instead, he changed his mind and put on his swim trunks before heading for the pool.Anything to keep the demons at bay.
* * * *
“That’s it,” Erin said, carrying in the last box.
“Wine?”Lara offered.
“Don’t mind if I do.I opened a bottle of Connor’s to irritate him, but I didn’t have a chance to drink it all.”
Lara gave her friend a quick hug and ignored the few boxes that were stacked in the kitchen.“Outside?”
“Sounds good.”
She poured them each a glass, and they sat next to each other on the swing.
“Sorry,” Erin said.“I feel like a heel.”
“Why?”
“It’s my fault.I was the one to suggest you two get married, but I had no idea how fucked up he really is.”
