Page 71
She shook some Raisin Bran into a bowl. “So, you’re using the Bazinga cup.”
“I don’t see how that’s relevant to anything.”
She snorted. “Please. You choose cups like other people decide their outfits for the day. It’s all based on your mood. And you were whistling while you did it. If this is a Bazinga day, you’re in a good mood.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Fine. Keep your secrets,” Dakota said, as if she didn’t know exactly where I’d gone last night.
I wasn’t about to admit it, though. I wasn’t ready to talk about it.
I got out the milk and set it by her elbow so she could finish making her breakfast. Dakota poured milk, then stabbed her spoon into her cereal.
“You know, soon, I won’t be the old lady stuck in bed,” Dakota said. “I’ll be the one rolling in late.”
I picked up my coffee cup and took a gulp. “What do you mean?”
She took a bite, crunching loudly and taking her time, clearly reveling in my curiosity.
I waited patiently. When she dug into her cereal for a second spoonful, I let out an exasperated huff.
“Dakota Marie—”
She laughed. “Okay, I’m not as mysterious as you, so I’ll tell you. Felipe asked me out.”
I set my cup on the counter. “Seriously?”
“Well, more like he wrote his number on the side of my cup and said to call him sometime. But that’s basically the same thing, right?”
Not necessarily.
I’d been happier when Dakota’s crush was one-sided. Not because I didn’t want her to be happy, but because so many guys didn’t know how to treat her. If Felipe was just another guy who thought he could take advantage of her because she was disabled…
“Kit, stop scowling!” Dakota exclaimed. “This is good news.”
“I know.” I tipped up my cup to drain the last of my coffee then set my mug in the sink. “I’m happy for you, Dakota. I hope it works out.”
She sighed. “I know that look. That’s not your happy look.”
“Dating has been hard on you in the past. I just worry—”
“I can’t be afraid to put myself out there because of some bad experiences,” Dakota said. “If I do that, I’ll be alone forever.”
I walked over and bent to kiss the top of her head. “You’ve always got me.”
“Well, that’s a problem too, isn’t it?”
I drew back. “What do you mean?”
“You have your own life to live, Kit. You can’t be saddled with me forever.”
“I’m not saddled with you,” I argued. “You know I love hanging out with you. We’ve got a good thing going here.”
“Maybe, but it’s not what either of us needs long-term. No fairy tale ends with and then he lived happily ever after with his sister.”
“Well, maybe they should. There are all kinds of ways to be happy. There are all kinds of family. We’ve made a pretty good one, even if it’s not traditional.”
She smiled up at me. “I guess so. I just can’t help feeling like I’m holding you back from having more.”
