I sputter a chuckle. “Why are you pushing this so much?”
“I want to see you happy. I have Nash and Bo, and yes, you are part of my life, but life can be better when you also have your own circle of people close to you. Consider it a bonus.”
That does make sense.
“We’ll see. I’m kind of busy with the upcoming period. The hockey draft and free-agent player contracts shopping around for teams means a lot of legal documents need to be signed, T’s crossed and I’s dotted. Not to mention, the sponsors want to relook at terms, oh, and Oliver mentioned about reassessing division of work for next season,” I list.
My sister doesn’t seem impressed. “Not one thing in that sentence is for you and your personal life. It’s really kind of depressing, actually.”
I lean back with my arms on a step. “Maybe you have apoint. I’ll make a note to buy a plant or something next time I’m at the store.”
Summer nudges my arm. “You are annoying and making me kind of angry now. Have you not learned from me thatsnap—” She clicks her fingers. “Everything can change in an instant.”
A heavy moment of silence swirls around us. I give her a tight side hug because if anyone can shed some light it’s her. She’s a widow, after all. “You’re right.”
“Then open up a little. Tone down the frustration. You two are literally flirting through bickering. The way you look at her and the way she looks at you is so painfully obvious that I’m not sure how your neighbors haven’t throttled you two yet. Normally, bystanders are the first to notice.”
Smiling to myself, I have to give her props for pushing her agenda on me. The get-her-brother-a-girlfriend agenda.
“Just let us be. Time will tell if we decide to take a step back and be civil. Even if moments have happened that indicate it could be another way, we seem to continue to be only this way.”
“Building it up, huh. Just means you are closer to knocking down your wall.”
My nose tips up as I observe my sister, oh so wise. “Is it my wall that’s the problem? Because I’m not quite sure if it is.”
Esme and I are a game of who will falter first. Maybe that’s what drives us, turns us on, and if we both admitted it then we would actually have to face one another underneath our exterior. That sure as hell scares me.
“I swear, if next time we visit you don’t have a girlfriend on your arm, then I’m going through my contacts to set you up. Except, someone who might be a match for you is a stone’s throw away.”
“She’ll throw the stone back.”
Summer’s warm smile spreads. “All the more reason she’s good for you. My brother always liked a challenge. Please.” She brings her hands together in prayer. “Do it for me. If you see a chance to ask her out or make a move or anything that resembles something worth exploring, promise that you will do it.”
My sister is convinced that she’s right. No chance of even attempting to tell her she’s wrong.
Besides, deep down I know everything she says makes sense.
“Promise me. Please, please, please.” Puppy eyes. My sister brought out the puppy eyes.
“You sound like the kid I used to take to Jolly Joe’s for ice cream. Will you begin to stomp and whine? I need to make you stop because I only signed up for one baby to visit this weekend, not two.” I’m playing this off. “Okay.”
Summer throws her arms around my neck. “You won’t regret it.”
“Discussion over. I need breakfast.”
She hops up and holds her hand out. “Me too. Breakfast of celebratory champions.”
I can only smile back and follow her, letting my eyes wander to Esme’s house for a few seconds, wondering what will happen now that my barrier just got thinner.
10
ESME
Walking through the house to the back deck of my neighbor Kelly and Greg’s house, I set my envelope with a gift card down on the present table for their son’s high school graduation.
A BBQ is a classic way to celebrate this momentous occasion. They have family and friends here, but also neighbors… including Keats. With what now feels like second nature, my eyes drift to him as soon as my peripheral view spots the man of my contempt.
He has a beer bottle in one hand, quickly sliding his phone into his pocket with his other, all while chatting to Oliver. Maybe it’s his wolflike senses, but he must feel my eyes on him as he shoots in my direction. There is no point for me to look away, as it is obvious that we are already trapped.
