Page 109 of Serenade Me

Chapter Forty-one

Anca

The car stops by the curb and we sit for a moment, not talking, not looking at each other.

After a few minutes, a car horn pulls us out of the silence.

“You sure about this?” Jez asks, still not looking at me.

“No.” I have to admit.

“Then don’t. Stay. We’ll work it all out.”

“I’m more sure that that’s not the right thing to do.”

He just nods and squeezes his hands tighter around the steering wheel.

“I’m sorry, about everything,” I say, and trying to blink the tears away.

“Shush. There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

“I… ruined everything. You were right to keep me away.”

“Silly Anca. Did you have a good time? While you were with us?”

“I had the time of my life.”

“Then stay.” He says again.

“I can’t. I think we all need some time. Thank you for everything. For saving my life… again. I love you so much, big brother.”

“I love you too, baby sis. Let me know how you are, okay?”

“I will.” I push the car door open, and then stop, pulling an envelope from my pocket and hand it to Jez. “Will you…?”

He looks at it for a moment and then sighs, taking it from my hand. “Don’t do it this way. Talk to him. I mean, I know he’s been an ass, to both of us. But… he doesn’t deserve this.”

“He deserves kindness. This is what this is.”

I lean over and press a kiss to Jez’s cheek.

“Go out there and kill it, big bro. I’ll be watching.”

“Creepy.”

I give him a weak laugh.

“Go, get outta here. Your life’s waiting.” He says. And it makes it even harder to leave.

I close the door behind me, and run into the airport, before I forget that I’m a big girl now, and need to grow up.

Even if the only thing I want is my big brother’s arms around me, telling me everything is going to be okay.

***

Dear Marius,

Do you remember the day we first met?