"I told you she was studying to be a lawyer, like you. Come on, Connor. Don't be a dipshit." Tracy rolls hereyes.
I sag a little when I realize he's forgotten this simple fact about me. I finally got the nerve to call him a few years ago, when I decided I wanted to go to law school. We spoke briefly, he answered all the questions I had, but it never turned into anything more thanthat.
I don't know why I had this delusion he'd ask me to talk about it over dinner, and we'd head back to his place, where he would seduce me, like he always wanted to, but that neverhappened.
Sadly, my dreams were cut very short when he was cordial but treated me like his little sister’s best friend. He even stated at one point he was shocked I was old enough to be applying to law school. He's only four years older thanus.
To a normal person, those four years are nothing, but to him, they’re engraved in his brain that I’m the same age as his littlesister.
"Did you finish early?" Connorasks.
I glance at Tracy, who mouthssorryin my direction. After taking a deep breath, I tell the same lie I’ve told everyone else. "I'm taking a year off." I shrug like it's no big deal and hope it stays atthat.
"Why would you do that?" he asks, obviouslyconfused.
My lips tilt to a small smile that I quickly recover from. At least he remembered talking to me. "Things change." I try to shrug it off like it's no bigdeal.
"Wow." His eyebrows rise in surprise. "Never would have thought you’d be one to take time off. When we spoke last time, you were so driven, so sure it was exactly what you wanted todo."
I give Tracy the samehelp melook she gave me a few minutesago.
"What's going on at your firm nowadays?" she asks, changing the subject onceagain.
"Crazy ass shit at every turn. They keep me busy, that's forsure.”
He stretches and I can't help but notice the way his arms flex to show his lean, muscular form. He rubs his eyes like he's exhausted and this is his first reaction anytime work is brought up before letting out a longsigh.
"Do you even have a life?" Tracy asks. "Work isn't everything, youknow."
He runs his hands through his hair, making the short, dark brown, locks even more sexy. Not answering her questionthough.
"You know I couldn’t care less, but Mom's constantly saying she wants you to settle down. I mean, have you had a girlfriend even somewhatrecently?"
My breath hitches. This is not something I want to hear about. I had to endure him dating who everyone thought wasthe onefor years. They started dating his senior year, and she was at their house every day. Through his college years, I thought my dreams were completely shattered, and he was going to propose until he walked in on her with someone from herwork.
That's when the shit hit the fan and he took off, moving to San Francisco and hardly ever came backhome.
He lets out a little sigh that's almost unnoticeable, but I was staring at him, holding my breath while waiting for hisreply.
He shrugs but I can tell it’s not as easy as he’s making it sound. "I almost did. At least I thought things were moving in thatdirection."
My heart aches at his admission and the sadness on hisface.
He blows it off. "Wasn't meant to be,though."
"That's it? Just wasn't meant to be? Did you even try with her?" Tracy asks, deflated by her brother’sattitude.
A sharp laugh escapes him. "Believe me, I tried. More than I should have, probably. You know my friend,Alan?"
"The doctor,right?"
"Yup. Well, let's just say she chosehim."
The thought of anyone choosing someone over Connor makes me want to slap her silly for hurting him, but I also want to hug her for allowing me to keep my hopesup.
"Was she seeing youboth?"
He laughs under his breath. "It's complicated. Just leave it atthat."
