“I told him he deserved to be someone’s first priority, then ran away,” Elissa mumbled as she stared at her shoes.
“You’re a dumbass.” Ami threw her hands up in disgust.
“I know.”
“Ami, your sister is not a dumbass,” their mom said. Three mouths dropped open in shock. Dana Wright never swore. Not once in Elissa’s entire life, no matter how frustrated she got, no matter how dire the situation. “She is a grown woman who made a mistake. And what do we do when we make a mistake?”
In unison, the sisters replied. “Apologize and do what we can to make it right.”
“So I think Elissa knows exactly what she needs to do.” Dad sipped his coffee.
“I do. I will. But not when I smell like hospital and haven’t eaten since Ryan brought me a BLT in the tub last night.”
Their parents suddenly became interested in whatever the beeping machine was doing.
“Mom and Dad do not need to know your kinks, Liss.” Ami grabbed her sister’s hand and tugged her up and out the door. When they were out in the hall, she lowered her voice. “But I wouldn’t mind hearing about this one.”
Elissa shoved her away. “Shut up.”
“You were right about one thing—you stink. Let’s fetch Bertha, then you need to eat, shower, sleep. Don’t come back until you’ve made things right with Mr. Wrong.”
Arm in arm, the sisters walked out into the too-warm Arizona spring sun.
forty-six
showing up
A soft knock woke Ryan. He rubbed his eyes and glanced at his phone. Hell, he’d slept most of the day, passing out on the couch after a shower and some reheated leftovers. Some documentary ran on the TV, autoplay having decided he needed to watch dolphins getting busy.
Another knock sounded, slightly louder. He lumbered off the couch and stumbled to the door. His heart leaped as he opened it, and he stopped breathing for one eternity of a second.
Elissa stood on the landing, clutching a large envelope in her hands. Dark circles ringed her eyes, and she was dressed in ripped jeans and a faded T-shirt, but he would swear she never looked better.
He cleared his throat. “How’s your mom?”
Elissa threw herself at him, and he caught her, holding her close and rubbing her back as she cried. Any doubts about her, about them, melted away.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it,” she said through sobs. “I need you, Ryan, so badly it scares me.”
“I know you didn’t mean it. I know you’re scared. I am, too.”
“You are?”
“Fucking terrified. Here, come in and sit down.”
He stepped back, keeping an arm around her shoulders, and guided her to the couch. She tossed the envelope on the coffee table as he settled into the corner. He pulled her onto his lap and handed her the box of tissues Iz kept on the end table.
She wiped her face clean. “Does that mean you forgive me?”
Ryan kissed her forehead. “Yes, you are forgiven a thousand times over. You thought by being the perfect daughter, the perfect sister, the perfect accountant, you could prevent bad things happening to your family.”
“It sounds stupid when you say it like that.”
“It’s not stupid.” Chuckling, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s human. It’s a good look on you, Elissa. But you still haven’t answered my question. How’s your mom?”
“She’s going to be fine. Some broken bones, but nothing life threatening.”
“Thank God.” And he hugged her tighter. She relaxed into his embrace.
