“Okay, I’m coming.”
“What? No.”
“My sister just gave me the greenlight, babe, and I have to talk to her to make sure this isn’t a fluke, alright? I’m coming over.”
I nod, drying my face with his sleeve. “Okay.”
“Be there in five.”
Chapter 32
Benson
Idroveoutofthe Hawthorne House driveway too fast, and the heater hasn’t warmed up yet because the truck hasn’t been running long enough.
My phone is in the cup holder. I don’t put music on. I have been bracing the whole six minutes down Main because I’ve only heard my sister say she was sorry at least four times in our lives. The phone call held a certain energy, and I’m driving over to find out whether it holds in person.
I park behind a black sedan I do not recognize and look up at the second floor. The kitchen light is on. The image of Lucy back in her apartment with my sister does a thing to my chest. The two women in my life are in one room, and it sounds like they’ve come to terms. If my sister is threatening me, then I think I’m in good territory. This is more than I’ve ever had from her.
I step out and walk to the front door. They buzz me in without me pressing the button. I run through what I’m going to say to my sister in my head twice on the way up, and neither of the versions feels right. By the time I am on the second floor, I give up on the script.
Gianna opens the door and looks at me. I stop on the last step.
“Hey.”
“Hi,” she says, then she leaves the door open and walks in.
I step inside and notice the two mugs sitting on the counter side by side, both half full. Love Island is paused on the TV.
Lucy’s on the couch in my hoodie. She has her knees pulled up under her and the sleeves of the hoodie pulled down over her hands. Her hair is up in the clip. She looks at me when I come in and her face does something I am going to think about for a long time.
I walk over and press a kiss to the top of her head. I lean in and whisper, “You’re wearing my hoodie.”
She nods. “I stole it from you.”
I kiss her again because she looks so fucking cute.
Gianna is at the kitchen island when she says, “So, why are you here?”
I stand up straight and walk over. “To see you.”
She looks over my shoulder at Lucy and then back at me. “Are you sure?”
I smirk. “Yeah, I needed to see this for myself.”
She rolls her eyes.
I lean against the counter and say, “I’m serious, G.” I pull over the stool with my foot and sit, then say, “Are you seriously not kicking her out anymore?”
Gianna grabs one of the mugs on the counter and sips. “I talked to mom a lot, and it helped.”
I give her a long look.
“Of course, I don’t want her to move out. I just have issues, and I’m trying to work on it.”
I lean back, knocking on the counter. “Wow, okay.”
“Wow –– what?” she asks, raising her eyebrows at me. And then she puts a hand up and closes her eyes. “You know me better than anyone.” She opens her eyes but stares down at her mug. “And I owe you an apology too.”
