“Yes, you do. Larissa, how many serious ex-girlfriends has Harlow had? And I’m not talking about first dates that went nowhere, but the women she’s called ‘girlfriend’ since you two met.”
“Nine,” she replied. “I think.”
“And you know how many first dates she’s been on, too, don’t you?” Aggie asked, seemingly very interested.
“No. That would be ridiculous.”
“I bet she knows how manyyou’vebeen on.”
“Probably, because it’s so few. Not that hard to count to, like, four.”
“That’s not the only reason she knows.”
“She’s my best friend, so, yeah, she knows how many dates I’ve been on.”
“Larissa… You are the dumbest smart person I know. You’re smarter than me, even though you don’t realize it. You’re probably smarter than the head of our department, and he was a literal Rhodes Scholar.”
“I am not smarter than you.”
“Yes, you are,” Aggie stated. “I might be faster at some things, but you’re smarter than me, little sister. There’s just one area you can’t ever seem to figure out, and I’ve tried to wait for you to get there yourself because, as we in psychology know, self-discovery is pretty important, but…” Aggie bit her lower lip.
“Just say it, Aggie.”
“Harlow is in love with you.”
Larissa leaned back in her chair.
“Maybe it’s because you’re so smart that you don’t see it. They say that a very high IQ can mean a lower EQ, but I don’t know that I buy that for everyone. And I don’t think EQ necessarily means–”
“She’s not in love with me, Aggie.”
“Oh, Larissa… Yes, she is. She’s been in love with you since the first moment she laid eyes on you. I’d know; I was there. I saw the whole thing. I’ve watched this whole thing you two have been doing for the past, what, twelve, or is it thirteen years now?”
“What thing? We haven’t done anything. We’re just–”
“Idiots in love,” Aggie finished for her. “Just listen to me for a second, okay? Don’t interrupt. I mean it. I’m going to ramble for a second.” Aggie pointed at her. “Harlow has been in at least nine relationships, and none of them have worked out. She keeps moving in with these women, only to end up at your house, where she has a room waiting for her with her own stuff in it. Yes, friends crash with other friends, but I was there the night you two met. I was at that party. I watched her look at you like you hung the damn moon, Larissa. And I love you; you’remy favorite person, outside of my kids – well, sometimes, you’re my actual favorite person because they’re doing something to annoy or piss me off. I even put you over my husband, and I love him, but you’re my sister. I held you when you came home from the hospital. I watched you grow up. I’ve been with you through everything, and I know why you hardly date at all. It’s not because of school. It’s not because you haven’t met the right person yet. It’s because youhave, and you haven’t realized it. I will admit: I’m not always Harlow’s number one fan, but that’s mainly because she loves you and hasn’t told you. Coward crap, I’m not a fan of, especially when it involves my sister. So, you two can keep doing this dance where you pretend like it’s not what it is, and you can grow old with other people or alone, but, Larissa, that woman loves you. God, she adores you. She loves taking care of you when you let her. She loves just being in the same damn room with you. She’d sit there silently next to you for hours, and she’s just happy to share space with you. She–”
“Then, why would she want to move an hour away from me when I’m offering her the chance to live together? Your argument doesn’t check out there, Aggie.”
Larissa crossed her arms over her chest.
“Oh, hell. You are infuriating. Whywouldshe want to live with you when she loves you and, for whatever reason, can’t tell you? She’s afraid, Larissa. She probably doesn’t want to be there when you go on that fifth first date, because it’ll mean you’re dating someone else and probably even getting naked with that someone else. God, I remember the three of us having lunch one time: you, me, and Harlow. You’d just started dating Romy, and I asked you if you two had sex yet. You said yes, and I looked over at Harlow. You were eating a burger or something and not paying attention, but Harlow turned to the window, looking like you had just told her the worst possible news, Larissa.”
“That was years ago.”
“I’m aware. She’s loved you for longer than that.”
“I don’t think so, Aggie. We’re just close,” she replied. “You don’t really have any close female friends. And you’re also straight, so you–”
“You don’t want to see it? Admit it to yourself? Fine. I’m only trying to tell you what the rest of the world already knows, Larissa. Even Mom and Dad know.”
“You told them you think she’s in love with me?”
“No,theytoldmethat they were waiting for you two to tell them that you were a couple. They worried you didn’t feel comfortable bringing a woman home all those years ago, even though you were out and they were fine with it. I told them that you were just friends, but that I was pretty sure Harlow was in love with you. They agreed that it was obvious, and we laughed about it because we all thought you two would get there soon. It’s been years now.”
“You’re laughing at me with Mom and Dad?”
“Both of you, technically, but yes.”
