I kiss his cheek, laughing. “I would expect nothing less from you.”
I head out to the deck, crossing my arms as Kristen glares at me.
“If there’s something you want to say to me, say it here,” I say calmly.
“I don’t think you and Noah are a good fit,” she scoffs with a flick of her wrist.
I keep my composure. “And you think that because?”
“He wants fun and you’re not fun.”
A sharp laugh escapes me. “He seems to think I’m more than enough fun for him. And considering I’ve known him since I was three, I’d say I have a good handle on what he likes. You don’t know me, Kristen. I don’t know you past your insistent need to dig your claws into a guy who doesn’t see you that way. I assume you’re more than that … at least I hope you are.”
Kristen narrows her eyes at me.
“I was in a relationship with a guy for seven years. He cheated on me the entire time, even getting someone pregnant. Noah isn’t that guy and you sure as heck shouldn't be that girl. I think you’re better than this whole act.”
She doesn’t say anything for a moment before snapping, “I’ll keep fighting.”
I let out a long exhale, trying to keep my composure. “I don’t know you well enough to hate you, but if you stay on this path, you’re going to hurt more than just me. You’d be hurting Noah and your brother too.”
I move towards her.
“We can move past it and pretend it never happened, or you can tire yourself out, trying to get the attention of a guy who will never look at you that way. You’re fighting a battle that you’ll never win and you’ll just isolate yourself in doing so.”
Kristen looks down at her feet. “I guess I’m being a bit childish, aren’t I?”
I nod my head. “I get the whole ‘go after what you want’ idea, but you’d be hurting a lot of people for nothing.”
Kristen looks up at me, with an embarrassed expression on her face. “I didn’t stop to think about all that. I’m sorry. I was in a shit relationship before, and now I’m here with my brother because I got fired. I guess I was trying to overcompensate.”
“I accept your apology. I don’t expect us to be best friends, but I do expect that, as a woman, you respect me and my relationship.”
“I can do that. I guess I better apologize to Noah.”
I shrug. “I won’t tell you what to do, but I’d appreciate that.”
“Is Connor single?”
“Kristen!” I groan.
She lets out a nervous laugh. “Sorry, sorry, too early for jokes, huh?”
“Just a bit.”
“But for real … is he?”
Good Lord.
Twenty-Nine: Audrey
You Are In Love - Taylor Swift
The rest of the day passes with minimal issues. Kristen apologizes to Noah and her brother, but that doesn’t stop her from flirting with my brother a few times. He looks confused at first, but in true Connor fashion, he meets her with all sorts of charm.
When he offers her a piece of gum, she takes a bite and spits it out immediately.
“What the heck is this?”
