Sighing, I lift my glass to my mouth again and take a sip of liquid courage. “We met in high school freshman year. She was a few inches shorter than me, beautiful olive skin and long, dark hair, and she stood up for me when no one else would.”
“What do you mean?”
“There was a boy in our grade who kept telling people that we’d sixty-nined. Honestly, I didn’t even know what that meant at the time, but Lydia overheard him saying something at lunch one day and could sense how it was making me feel. So, she waltzed up to him and told the guy that even if we had, he probably didn’t satisfy me.”
But Rhonan certainly knows what he’s doing in that regard, doesn’t he, Vienna?
“But the best part was when she told him the only time he should worry about sixty-nine was when it comes up in his math homework since he was failing that class.”
“I think I would have liked Lydia.”
“The only sass I possess is because of her, and after that day, she and I were inseparable.”
“You know, me and the boys met when we were freshmen too.”
“Is that right?”
“Yeah, and we were so naïve at that age about how life can change that we made a stupid pact which involved never dating each other’s sisters.”
“But isn’t Laney…”
“Marrying Fletcher?” He blows out a breath. “Yeah. Let’s just say that I didn’t take it well.”
“Well, your sister may have mentioned that you’re the king of holding on to the past.”
Rhonan pushes a hand through his hair. “Not a title I’m proud of, but yeah.”
“I get it.”
His eyes meet mine again. “You do?”
“Yeah. History elicits emotions, and sometimes, it’s those feelings that we’re trying to hang onto, not necessarily a person or an event.”
“It’s both for me,” he replies, his voice low.
“I can see that too, given what you’ve been through.” Both of us grow quiet. “But, if it’s any consolation, I’d say it’s obvious that Fletcher loves your sister. I don’t know them that well, but it only took me seeing them together for less than five minutes to come to that conclusion.”
“I know he does. It’s taken me months to really accept it, though. She’s my baby sister. I’ve looked out for her since she was born and felt even more protective over her after our mom died. The last thing I want is for her to get hurt—again.”
“She’s lucky to have an older brother like you.”
“Do you want kids someday?” he asks me, making my heart twist in my chest.
“I do, but I’m just not sure that’s in the cards for me.”
“How come?”
Opting to avoid a discussion I’m not ready for but still wanting to tell him a hint of the truth, I say, “I haven’t found someone I want to have kids with yet, and I’m not sure how long that’s going to take.”
His eyes meet mine and his voice sounds like gravel when he speaks. “Well, I can say without a doubt, that any child would be lucky to call you their mom. I’ve seen the way you are with Ellis, and…” He clears his throat. “You’re very good with kids. Not everyone can say that.”
Tears threaten to spill over. “Thank you.”
“Ms. Lewis?” Ellis says as she races up the steps of the deck, Roscoe on her heels.
“Yes?”
“Do you want to see me do a cartwheel?”
