“I have. But now I’m ready to talk.”
“Spill. I’ll listen; you talk. Begin.”
So, I start at the beginning. The New Year’s Eve party. About Gill researching her.
Perri crows, “Researching? That’s what you’re calling it, stalker?”
“It’s my job. Are you going to let me finish?”
“Sorry. Please continue.”
I tell her everything I can recall. I finish with this morning’s revelations. While I’m talking, the food is delivered.
“Wow,” she says with a mouth full of pancakes. “I’m speechless.”
“Ha. You’re never speechless.”
“You’re right. So, why do you think you started second-guessing everything this morning?”
“I dunno. I woke up happy to be there with her. I made coffee. At some point, I started talking to myself about how we would have a bigger bed when she moved in with me.”
At that, Perri spits out her mouthful of food. A combination of eggs, pancakes, and bacon hits me in the face. “Jeez, Perri. That’s disgusting.” Pulling some napkins from the dispenser on the table, I wipe off my face and then try to brush the chewed-up food off my T-shirt.
“Sorry. You shocked me. You want her to live with you? You just met weeks ago?”
“Seven weeks ago today. I calculated it this morning.”
“Wow. Almost two months. I’ve seen people move faster, but it’s completely out of character for you. You’re Mr. I’m Never Settling Down.” She watches me speculatively.
“I know.”
“What is it about her? What has caused you to want to chuck your life of complete self-involved solitude and isolation?”
“Self-involved isolation? Jesus.” I take a sip of coffee, hoping there’s no food floating in it. “She’s unique. She’s funny, quirky, a little messy, clumsy, and beautiful.”
“Mom said she was pretty.”
“Mom? How does Mom know?” Oh, good God. “When did she see MacKenzie?” I ask, but I’m not sure I really want to know.
“She went to the store. She bought some pieces that matched her necklace.”
“She did? MacKenzie didn’t mention that.”
“Well, Mom didn’t tell her who she was. She told MacKenzie a friend had one of her pieces.”
“What else did Mom say?” I ask, leaning forward.
My little sister smirks. “Bro, you’re in love.”
I scoff. “Am not.”
“Are too. You wanna know how I know?”
No. “Yes.”
“Because you want our approval. You want to know what Mommy thought of her.”
I lean back in my seat, attempting to look cool again. “Not true.”
