college. I wanted to have them with Myles. I watched him on stage at dive bars and any party he could manage. I watched on the sidelines for so long, Ro. I’m tired of being on the sidelines. I want to go out and experience all the things.”
“You don’t have to leave to do that, you know.”
“I do.” I set down my glass before I ended up wearing the sweet wine. “I do. Not forever. Just for a little while. I have to see what’s out there before I end up sitting here for the rest of my life and regretting it.”
Robin’s dark eyes shuttered. “There’s nothing wrong with settling down.”
“No.” I tipped my head against her shoulder. “Of course not. Nothing at all. I just can’t. I know you’re happy here. You’d be happier with some good sex, but you’re happy, right? Mostly?” I tipped up my gaze to meet hers.
“I’d be happier with sex, yes.”
“What happened with that Todd guy?”
“He ended up getting promoted to be my boss so we had to break it off. “
“I’ve read books like that. Fucking on desks in secret and stuff. You should try that.”
“Felicity.”
“What? I’m just sayin’. Did you like him? Like really like him?”
She shrugged.
“Break the rules, Ro. You need to. It makes you feel alive.”
“So I can be miserable like you?” My sister lifted her glass again. “Pass,” she said before taking a large gulp.
“Did Todd make you miserable? I can’t remember.”
“It wouldn’t be proper to date my manager.”
“Proper is only good for old ladies who forgot how to have orgasms. Did Todd know what to do? Or was he Todd the dud? He didn’t sound like one when I, um…interrupted.” I couldn’t believe I was having this conversation with my sister. Then again, it was long overdue. And if I could help someone before I left, maybe this pit in my stomach would go away.
At least a little.
“No.” Robin tipped the last of the bottle in her glass and stood. “He definitely knew what he was doing.”
I followed her into the kitchen. “I’m hungry. I think we need a pizza. A big one with greasy pepperoni on it.”
“Do it.”
“Wow. This is crazy. You only eat salads with six ounces of chicken on it, for fuck’s sake.” I went to the menu drawer.
“Today is not a salad day.” Robin grabbed her lunch bag sitting on the kitchen island and tossed it back into the fridge. “I need salt.”
“What are you doing home anyway?” I fanned out the pizza menus. “Which?”
Robin plucked out the menu for the most delicious joint around here.
“Wow. Hardcore grease.” I dug out my phone and used the app. “Twenty minutes!” I said when the order was in.
“Perfect. We need more wine.”
“There’s a fresh bottle under the microwave cart. I was going to leave you a note to drink one glass a day for me.”
“Okay if we do it all in one day?” Robin crossed to the cart and crouched down. She held up the fresh, very large bottle. “Huzzah.”
“Works for me.” I leaned on the kitchen island counter and propped my head up on my hand. “I like you like this. Way looser. You should definitely have wine more often.”
“I need it today. Funny you should mention Todd. I ran into him in the printer room.” She retrieved both of our glasses and refilled. “He told me he misses me.”
“See?”
“Still my boss.” She struggled with the paper around the twist cap. Only the best wine for us.
“Is there a fraternization policy or something?”
“Kind of.” She held the big bottle against her body as she attacked the cap and finally, it loosened. “Understood, not really in writing.”
I rolled my eyes. “You guys were colleagues before he became your supervisor, right?”
“Yes.” She took another sip. Her cheeks flushed with the wine…and maybe something else.
“Did he tell you he more than missed you?”
“He sort of kissed me.”
“At work?”
She put down her glass and covered her face with her hands. “Yes. Oh my God, Felicity. I almost dragged him into the storage room. What is going on with me?”
“You miss him.” I rested my chin on my linked hands. “Maybe even love him, huh?”
“I don’t know.”
“How long have you guys been broken up?” My sister and I weren’t close. I should know this stuff, but she held me at arm’s length just like she did with everyone else in her life. Maybe if she went after Todd, she’d loosen up. Maybe even loosen up around me too. It was