“Who says he’ll be around for very long?”
Zoey takes my hand in hers and stares up at me with soft eyes. “He’ll be around. He’s in this for the long haul, and I love him for you.”
“We’re so new,” I tell her before taking a long sip of my drink.
“That doesn’t matter. He looks at you the way Dad looks at Mom. He’s over the moon for you, sis.”
“A lot can happen in a short amount of time.”
I don’t know why I’m doubting what she’s saying. I can feel things are different with Oliver than they have been with anyone else. There’s an easiness to us that I’ve never experienced before. I feel safer with him than I have with any other man—besides those I’m related to—in my entire life.
“He’s sticking around.”
I set my glass down on the coffee table and relax back into the couch next to my sister. “We’ll see.”
“Maybe you don’t see it, but I do. He’d burn the world down for you—and for me, for that matter. He already proved it, and he doesn’t seem the least bit worried about going to jail for something he was doing to avenge me.”
“He’d do it again too. He said it was worth it.”
“See?” she says, pushing her shoulder into me. “A keeper.”
“I don’t know if we’re even dating.”
She turns her head toward me, her eyes narrowing. “What would you call it?”
“Getting to know each other.”
“Lou,” she breathes and shakes her head. “You don’t get to know someone by doing what he did. He’s in it and in it deep.”
“Maybe. We haven’t really talked about what we are.”
“It’s been busy,” she says and giggles. “I shouldn’t laugh.”
“You laugh when you want to laugh. There’s no right or wrong when you’re around me.”
“I love you,” she says to me, resting her head on my shoulder.
“I love you too, sissy,” I tell her, wishing I could take away the last few days from her memory.
“I want to find an Oliver someday.”
“You will.”
“Does he have a brother?” she asks and then yawns, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Yes, but he’s not a good one.”
“Damn,” she whispers.
We sit in silence, and my sister’s breathing changes, growing slower and deeper. I know she’s asleep when she snores softly, something she’s done since she was a little kid. I wait a few minutes before sliding out from her side and easing her onto the couch so she can get a good night’s rest.
I pick up my phone from the kitchen counter and open my messages.
Oliver: You okay?
He sent the text an hour ago. I heard the vibration from across the room, but I was too engrossed in the conversation with my sister to look.
Me: I’m good. Zoey’s here and passed out on my couch. You okay?
