And here I am, hopelessly in love with her brother.
“I never wanted to keep it from you,” I say quickly. “I just… didn’t know how to tell you without it being weird. Well, first I didn’t want to tell you because I thought I was just a mistake to him. But you—you’re my best friend, Maddie. I didn’t want to hurt you or make things complicated.”
For a heartbeat, she says nothing. Then her face softens, her expression flipping from dramatic interrogation to that familiar, teasing smile. “You idiot,” she says, nudging my shoulder. “You think I’d actually be mad about that?”
“I didn’t know.”
She sets her phone down and takes my hand. “Hailey, you’ve been part of this family since we were kids. And honestly?” She glances toward the window, where Cole is talking with their dad, snow dusting his shoulders. “I’ve never seen him look that happy. Ever. Not even with Jess…” She trails off, a quick, knowing look passing between us. “I could never be mad at that.”
I nod. Jess. The ghost we’ve both been careful not to mention too loudly.
Maddie squeezes my hand. “He’s been through hell, and you brought him back. So no, I’m not mad. I’m… really freaking happy for you.”
Something tight unravels in my chest. My throat burns. “You’re sure?”
She laughs, swiping at a stray tear that betrays her. “Of course I’m sure. You’re in love, babe. With my brother, which, ew, but also”—she pulls me into a hug so fierce it knocks the air out of me—“it’s kind of perfect.”
I laugh into her shoulder, half crying, half relieved. “God, I’ve been carrying that around for weeks.”
“Yeah, well,” she says, pulling back, eyes sparkling, “next time you plan on getting hot and heavy on our front porch, give me a heads-up so I can sell tickets.”
“Shut up.”
Across the room, Marla catches my eye and mouths thank you before slipping upstairs, her smile full of the kind of motherly approval that makes me tear up all over again.
“Looks like you’ve officially been adopted,” Maddie teases.
I look toward the doorway where Cole’s silhouetted against the snow, head thrown back in laughter at something his dad said.
“Yeah,” I murmur. “Feels like it.”
Maddie bumps my shoulder again. “Just don’t screw it up, okay? Because if you do, I get him in the custody arrangement.”
“Deal,” I say, grinning.
She snorts. “So, have you told your parents yet?”
“No.” I laugh, letting out a defeated sigh. “You know they never stick around long for your parents’ party, so they missed the fun.” I glance back out the window at Cole. “It should be fun. They’ll be surprised but happy.”
The door opens, and a cold gust of air sweeps in with Cole and Mr. Bristol. Cole shakes the snow from his hair, eyes landing on me immediately.
He stops in front of me, his hand reaching down, palm up. “Ready to go home?”
I slide my hand into his, and he pulls me up. “Yeah,” I whisper.
Maddie watches us with a smirk, hugging herself in her oversized sweater. “Lovebirds,” she mutters under her breath.
Marla calls from the stairs, “Walk safe, you two!”
Mr. Bristol lifts his mug. “And lock the doors if you’re gonna keep up the make-out tradition!”
“Dad,” Cole groans, ushering me toward the door as laughter explodes behind us.
I glance back once, at the twinkling lights, the family still laughing, the snow swirling outside the big picture window.
Cole opens the door, the cold rushing in, his hand finding the small of my back. “Let’s go relive all this embarrassment at your parents’ house, Simpson.”
I grin. “You’re never living this down, you know.”
