12
To my utter surprise, my mother didn't call to express her eternal disappointment in me for my abrupt departure.
And I was downright shocked when I saw J.J.'s name pop up on my cell screen around three that afternoon.
My first instinct was to let it go to voicemail. J.J. and I had already had a tense conversation today and I didn't want it to devolve into an out-and-out fight. But I couldn't avoid my brother. If I didn't answer the phone, he'd probably just show up on my doorstep.
"Hello, brother," I greeted when I answered.
He was quiet for a moment and I braced for an angry tirade.
Instead, he said, "I'm sorry, Cam."
Uh, what?
"I think I misheard, what did you say?" I asked.
He made a frustrated sound, well, a grunt, and repeated, "I'm sorry."
"For what exactly?"
"Seriously, Cam?"
"Well, I want to make sure that you're apologizing for thinking that I would be the type of person who would jerk your best friend around and not because you egged my shop. Please tell me you didn't egg my shop."
"It's Sunday afternoon. The shop is packed this time of day and any one of them would have called you by now if I'd done anything to Crave."
"Okay, so you're apologizing for thinking that your little sister is an asshole?"
"Yes," he growled. "Stop giving me such a hard time. I know I came across as a jerk and I've apologized."
"It hurt, Jay." As soon as I said it, I realized it was true. It had hurt, tremendously, that my brother could think that. I hadn't let go of my anger until this moment because it would hit me that a person I loved thought I was capable of doing that to someone else.
"I know. I really didn't mean it the way it came out."
"Then how did you mean it?" I asked, my voice soft.
He sighed and didn't speak for a few seconds. "Cam, I know how you felt about Brody in high school. And I know how he felt about you."
"You mean hated me?"
"No, I don't think he hated you at all. I'm pretty sure he was trying not to be the kind of asshole who went after his best friend's little sister."
I had to laugh. "Oh, that's hilarious. He wanted me so he was mean to me to drive me away."
Silence was his only response.
"Seriously?"
"Cam, he was too old for you back then. You were a sophomore when he was a freshman in college. It wouldn't have been right."
"But now it's okay?" I couldn't control the sarcastic edge in my voice.
"Honestly, I don't think I could find a better man for my little sister. I'm more worried about you breaking his heart."
"Oh, yeah, because I go around breaking hearts on a daily basis." God, he was pissing me off again.
"I don't think you would do it intentionally, Cam. You're not like that. But Brody's life is different now. He's older. Settled. He has a daughter to think about. And you're just getting started. I know you want to open another shop. To grow your business. You're a smart woman and you have goals. Priorities. I'm worried that a single father won't fit into those plans."
