“Man, I just love how crazy you are.” She grins.
That’s a little funny coming from Leah because before my brother, she had quite the wild streak too. She and I are actually quite similar. We both have a decent amount of tattoos. We both like to speak our minds. And we both have made some extremely questionable decisions in our past lives.
It’s like we are kindred spirits. Maybe that’s why when I start telling her the story of Beau and I, I just keep talking. It all comes pouring out.
She listens to me tell her about how Beau was my favorite person in the world and how leaving him behind almost killed me.
I’ve never admitted that out loud before. I’ve always stood by my decision to leave and acted like it was no big deal.
I’m not sure why I blurt out this sudden confession. Maybe the wine is making me more chatty. Or maybe it’s because Leah is just so damn easy to talk to. I think it helps that she's not one of my actual siblings. When I bare my soul to her, there’s no judgement. I love my sisters and brother, but none of them can resist the urge to tell me I’m about to do something stupid–or the urge to say I told you so when I inevitably do it anyway.
When I finally take a breath, she mulls over everything I just told her. While she thinks, I go grab the bottle of wine off the kitchen counter and refill each of our glasses.
As I’m pouring, I say, “I don’t know if this is a big deal, but Luna has pulled all of the pots out of the cabinet and is meticulously lining them up in front of her.”
“She does that a lot. Wait a few minutes. She’ll start trying to make music on them.
“Is she auditioning for Stomp?” I joke.
“At this point, nothing would surprise me with that little girl. I’ve learned to pick my battles.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“Anyway. Back to you and Beau.”
Damn. I was hoping she forgot.
“Do you really think he hates you?” She questions.
“Uh, yeah. Pretty sure he actually hates me.”
She taps her finger on her lip as she thinks. It’s like she doesn’t believe me or something. I figure she’s going to tell me what she’s hung up on, but she doesn’t.
Instead, she catches me off-guard by asking, “So, why did you leave? It sounds like you guys had some big plans after high school.”
While I love Leah, and I feel comfortable talking to her, I don’t think that’s a topic I want to get into. It’s not something that I’ve ever talked about with anyone. Seeing as I never told Beau my reasoning, it doesn’t seem right to share it with anyone else.
That fact still rings true.
So, I just say, “At the time, I had my reasons.”
Before she can press further, I add, “You know, when the hottest guy in town asks you to hop on the back of his hog and run away with him, you don’t say no.”
Honestly, that guy had nothing to do with my leaving. He was just my ride. He and I didn’t last longer than a week, and he ended up being an asshole.
An asshole who had no idea where a clit was or why it was important.
It just goes to show that someone being good looking doesn’t mean a damn thing.
Leah looks like she doesn’t entirely believe my answer, but she lets it go.
When she does speak again, she says, “I know it’s probably hard dealing with Beau–and working with him–but I don’t want it to scare you off. We are all really happy you’re back.”
“Don’t worry. I think you guys are stuck with me.” I pause to sip my wine, which is starting to taste better and better. “The whole Beau thing is annoying, but I’m no stranger to people not liking me. Hell, at least half the people in this town have hated me at one point or another. It’s never really bothered me. When people look down at me, it fuels me to be better…or more of a bitch…whichever one I’m feeling like.”
She grins. “That-a-girl. I’m glad working at the shop is going pretty well.”
“Me too. I know it’s supposed to only be part-time, though, so I need to find something else to occupy my time.”
