“Why did you?”
“Mostly because I didn’t want to be so far away from my mom. Is this the same sister whose engagement party you wereat?”
I take a deep breath. “Yes.”
“What’s her fiancé called again?”
It pains me to even speak his name. “Dan.”
“I can tell he’s a good friend of yours,” he says, dryly. “But good news. It’s time for your next cookie.”
Somewhere around cookie number four, Connor implemented a thirty-minute rest period between flavors, so we don’t get too hopped up on sugar. But deep down I wonder if he didit to give us a concrete reason to spend more time together. We still have three flavors togo.
“What sorts of things does your sister like todo?”
“I don’t—I don’t really know. We’re not that close.”
I turn to look at him. He says nothing.
“I’m nervous, I guess. Before I went home last month, we hadn’t spoken in more than two years. Not since their last engagement party, in fact.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“That’s—why?”
“Uhh…” I’ve always stood by my actions at the party. I know it was shitty, but I did what I had to do. But something about saying it out loud to Connor makes me feel uneasy. Like the memory doesn’t sit so well with me anymore. “So, remember how I said my sister’s fiancé was a shithead?”
“Yeah.”
“Well. So.” I rub my temples. I don’t even know where to start. “So, at their first engagement party, I made a toast and called Dan out, in front of everyone, for having sex with someone who wasnotmy sister at town hall.”
Connor chokes on the piece of cookie he’d just popped into his mouth. “Come again?”
I shrug. “He was never going to tell Shannon, and I was pissed off that he was going to get away withit.”
“What did peopledo?”
“The place went, like, deathly silent. And then Shannon turned to Dan and said, ‘Dan, what is she talking about?’ and everyone just exploded. Shannon stormed off, Dan went after her. My momflippedout at me. And the party just kind of…dispersed.”
“Fucking hell.”
“Long story short, Shannon was obviouslysuperpissed off atme.”
“Not sure I blame her,” Connor says.
“No, I know. I don’t either, honestly. I didn’t mind being the bad guy because the ends justified the means, you know? But then she and Dan got back together. And she still wouldn’t talk tome.”
Somewhere over the course of my confessional, Connor has slung his arm over the back of the bench.
It’s almost,almostlike he’s put his arm aroundme.
“Anyway,” I say. “So now they’re engaged again and she’s coming to visit, and this is my chance to make her see reason and get my sister back. I have to get it right.”
“Hmm,” Connor says. “And if she marries this guy anyway?”
“I won’t let that happen.”
