She pulls the door shut behind her before I can join her.
Fuck.
My stuff is still all over the living room.
Including my dog, who went out two hours ago, had breakfast, and is now giving me a one-eyed squint.
You sure that was a good idea, bud?
“Not at all,” I tell him.
He snorts in amusement and goes back to snoozing.
I strip the quilt off the couch while I listen in on the conversation outside.
“I’d like to talk to Dane, please,” Uncle Rob says stiffly.
“Why should I let you have access to him after the scene you made about us last night?”
Uncle Rob huffs. “I want to apologize to him.”
“How well do you know your nephew?”
“I’ve known him his entire life.”
“That doesn’t mean youknowhim. What’s important to him? Where does he see himself in ten years? Who are his friends? If he had to choose between peer pressure from dead people to keep up a family feud or leaving all of you behind to love who he wants to love and live how he wants to live, what would he pick?”
I peek out the window.
Amanda’s on the front porch, looking down on Uncle Rob, who’s retreated to the edge of the bottom step.
I spot Esme leaning against her car, parked next to my and Amanda’s rentals.
So Uncle Rob isn’t here completely willingly.
Good to know.
“You two don’t belong together—” Uncle Rob starts, but he stops when Amanda snorts.
“Unless you’re about to tell us that we’re siblings or first cousins, I’m pretty sure neither one of us will care.We didn’t do this.We didn’t start this fight, none of you will tell us why it matters so much, and we have no interest in continuing to be the next generation of people who enjoy making conflict for no good reason. If you want to see Dane again, you’ll let it go too. He deserves family who are happy for him and who honestly want the best for him. We all do.”
Uncle Rob eyes her.
I can’t see her face, but I can read her body language. Arms at her sides. Shoulders relaxed. Swaying left and right, just the slightest bit. Head up, but not so much that it’s haughty.
Just enough to sayI’m not the enemy, but don’t mistake me for a pushover either.
I shouldn’t have sent her out there alone.
I should be right next to her.
But she has this.
She’s strong. She’s capable. She believes in what we’re doing.
And she believes in me.
My throat is thick. My heart pounding in a painful beat.
