Austin shook his head. “Sam isn’t my favorite person, guys.” He shrugged. “I thought she was once, but we arejustbest friends.” He paused. “We share this unbreakable bond, and while it was romantic at times, it wasn’t meant to stay that way forever. Timing ideal or not ideal, we would’ve been together if it were written in the stars.” He paused. “If I ever thought of Sam while Katie and I were long distance in college, it was because I missed Kates so much, not because I still had feelings for Sam.” He shook his head. “There was nothing like picking up Katie from the airport when she visited for the weekend, with her overstuffed tote bag and pink rolling suitcase. Or when I went to Hamilton—she, Meredith, and Yasmin always met me outside baggage claim. They screamed my name and waved around the most obnoxious welcome sign. No matter where we were, Maryland or New York, I felt like I was coming home.” Austin made eye contact with me. “Does that make more sense?”
Yes, I thought, feeling a tight twist of sadness.But it doesn’t explain why Katie is so special. I still don’t understand what makes her so special.
Special enough that he really wouldn’t give things with Samira a true shot.
Austin half read my mind. “Mads, you know how I met Katie.”
“Yeah, you used your fake ID to get into Triumph and went up to her at the bar to work whatever magic I still don’t totally believe you have on her.”
Dad and Da chuckled before Austin spoke. “We talked for a bit. She was quiet at first, so I couldn’t quite tell if she was interested, but after I made her laugh, I offered to buy her a drink. She nodded and told the bartender—who’d made me a soda with lime earlier—that she wanted exactly what I was drinking.” He let out a long breath, like he had disappeared into the memory. “I got really nervous then, because I knew she was expecting vodka or tequila. Itlookedlike I was drinking one or the other, and I thought she’d be turned off when she discovered it wasneither. I’m not embarrassed by my sobriety, but I did get teased about it now and again.”
Da leaned forward in his chair. “Who teased you?”
Austin shrugged, as if to say it didn’t matter.
“But Katie showed no surprise when the bartender raised the soda nozzle and filled her glass and added the lime. She just took a sip, smiled at me, and said, ‘This isreallyrefreshing.’” Heshrugged. “I knew right then and there. Iknewthis girl was special, and that the clock had finally chimed—the timing was right. Nothing was in the way of me falling in love with her. I didn’t see howanythingcould get in the way of falling in love with her.” He smiled to himself. “Katie has this irresistible quality of making me feel like I can take on the world, and she’s the best partner and teammate, always right there with me. I love how we build each other up.” He paused. “Did I ever tell you about the time she surprised me at Hopkins junior year?”
I shook my head.
“She showed up at my door out of the blue, with tomato soup and grilled cheese, when she should’ve been leaving for the DR with Mer and Yasmin. She was on spring break, but knew I had midterms.” He laughed. “Funnily enough, I’d arranged for flowers and champagne in her hotel room…” He trailed off. “She’s my favorite person who has also become my best friend.”
A lump formed in my throat. I hadn’t known any of this. We knew that Katie was supportive of Austin’s drinking habits (or lack thereof), and despite the fact that she could drink a bottle of rosé with a straw, I remembered she and Austin didn’t keep any alcohol in their apartment. And she skipped her vacation?!
“I think Samira is the coolest person on the planet,” I said. “If I didn’t have all thesetotally unbiasedpeople”—I gestured around the room—“telling me I was an icon, I’d aspire to be her when I grew up.”
My family laughed.
“If I’m being honest, I still don’t know Katie as well yet,” I continued. “But I do knowyou,and if you say she’s your favorite person…” I shrugged. “There’s no contest. I understand, and I support you to the moon and back.”
Because I did. Austin loved Katie; he wanted to marry Katie.
I just wish I’d known these stories earlier. Maybe then I wouldn’t have misjudged Katie so badly. She was deeply in love with my brother, and with such unconditional support, I could see why Austin loved her back.
“And she’s really cute,” Austin added, starry-eyed. “You should see her in—”
“Okay!” Dad interrupted, smiling. “We get the picture, kid.”
***
“He’s not going to tell her,” I told Connor. We were waiting in the Chick-fil-A drive-through line after football and field hockey practice. It was a gridlock, packed with soccer moms in loaded SUVs and minivans. “He doesn’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Interesting,” Connor said. “Because, from my extensive movie-watching experience, when this type of thing happens, the secrecy almost always sets off a bomb, and we learn thathonestyis the best policy.”
“I know, I know,” I agreed. “But Austin wants to try to save his friendship with Samira, and the chances of that are pretty low if Katie knows all.”
“Katie still hates Samira, huh?”
“Technically, yes,” I said. “Though I have a theory she’s actually intimidated by Samira; she doesn’t hate her.” I paused. “Although she woulddefinitelyhate her if she found out what happened this weekend…”
We pulled up to the drive-through window, and while Connor placed our massive order, I snapped a photo of him; he looked cute in profile, with his postpractice unkempt hair and flushed face. I loved that he was wearing a PENN FIELD HOCKEY T-shirt. It had warmed my heart after he’d first shown it to me. I smiled at the picture before posting it on my Instagram story.
By the time we’d rounded the curve to the pickup window, the bridesmaid chat had blown up with messages.Aww!!!Yasmin had texted with a screenshot of my story.
He’s hot and cute at the same time, Reese texted.
You guys…Amanda wrote with heart-eye emojis.
Childhood-friends-to-lovers trope for the win!Paige said.
