"What are we going to say?" she asks once we finally arrive home.
"The truth."
"Which is what exactly?"
"That we have feelings for each other. That we should've told him sooner. That we're sorry for lying."
"You think he'll forgive us?"
"Eventually. He's pissed right now, but he'll get over it."
"How do you know?"
"Because he's my best friend. Because he loves you, and because underneath the anger, he wants us to be happy."
"I hope you're right."
"Me too."
We pull into Hearts Bend just before midnight. The town is dark and quiet. I drive to Luke's house, his truck is in the driveway, and the lights are on inside.
"He's waiting for us," Callie says.
"Yeah."
We sit in my truck for a moment. Neither of us moves to get out.
"Last chance to run," she says.
"I'm done running."
"Me too."
We get out and walk to the door together. I knock. Luke answers within seconds.
He looks between us. His expression is unreadable.
"Come in," he says.
We follow him inside. The house is exactly as I remember. Comfortable. Lived-in. Photos on the walls of Luke and Calliegrowing up, and photos of their parents before the cancer took their mom.
Luke gestures to the couch. "Sit."
We sit. He remains standing. Arms crossed. Waiting.
"Luke—" I start.
"Let me talk first." His voice is calm. Too calm. "I gave you my blessing. Told you I was fine with you having feelings for my sister, and told you to figure it out. Do you remember that conversation?"
"Yes."
"So explain to me why, instead of coming to me and saying hey, we're together now, I had to find out that Callie drove to Denver in the middle of the night. That you've been lying to me, and that you're doing exactly what I was worried about. Going behind my back."
"We weren't trying to go behind your back," Callie says.
"Then what were you trying to do?"
"We just wanted time. To figure things out before telling you."
