Change of Heart - By S.E. Edwards Page 0,83
New York. But no, it’s still there—as always.”
“I don’t envy you,” I tell her. “I know what he can be like, too.” I give Min’s arm a squeeze.
“Hey, it’s not my fault if my brother is as dumb as a post. He has you right in front of him, and he’s trying to push you away?”
“I think it’s his way of trying to protect me.” I shake my head. “He promised he wouldn’t ask me to leave again, though.”
“So you’ve already had this discussion?” Min asks.
“More than once,” I sigh.
“That’s probably why he wanted me to act as the messenger. Rich has many flaws, but he always stays true to his word.”
“That’s good to know,” I say. “So now we just wait for him to come back?”
“I guess so,” Min agrees.
“Did he tell you what he was planning on doing next? He mentioned that he had a plan to me too, but when I asked him about it, he wouldn’t say a word.”
“No,” Min tells me. “The issue of you came as a bit of a stumbling block.” She pauses. Then, she picks up my hand and turns to face me. “You have to tell him how you feel.”
“What?” I stumble. “No! I can’t.”
“Why not?” Min stresses. “It’s the only way he will let you stay.”
“I can’t,” I repeat adamantly. “Not yet.” I haven’t known Min for very long, but already, I feel like I can confide in her. “What if he doesn’t feel the same way?” I ask in a small voice.
“Oh, sweetheart, I can tell you with absolute certainty that he does. I know my brother. I grew up with him. I’ve never seen him act around anyone the way he acts around you.”
“You’re nice to say that,” I murmur. “But you were both a lot younger back then.”
Min laughs. “Good point. But,” she adds in a secretive voice, “I also know men. Have you ever been in love before?”
I hesitate. “I thought I was once. Looking back, I don’t think that was what it was.”
“I was in love, once,” Min tells me. She sighs wistfully. “Circumstance tore us apart.”
“When?” I ask without thinking. Then I feel my cheeks grow warm. “I mean, if you don’t mind me asking.”
Min smiles. “You won’t tell Rich?”
“No!” I say in surprise. “Of course not.”
“Just checking. Older brothers can be stupidly protective at times. When? Oh, not so long ago. A few weeks, in fact.”
The pieces fall into place. “Your boyfriend from New York,” I say. “Who you were forced to leave behind when you came to Rich.”
Min smiles a little. “His name was Joey. My heart fluttered every time I thought of him. I had to leave him without a word. There was no other choice. I knew a clean break would be the only way to keep him from coming after me. It keeps him safe, too. If he doesn’t know where I am, he can’t get in trouble with the men looking for me.”
“That’s so sad,” I say. “I’m sorry, Min.”
“I don’t regret it,” she tells me. “How can I? We had the most beautiful few months together. Sometimes, I think, that once all of this is over, I’ll go back and find him again.” She laughs wistfully. “But that’s just me being foolish. My point is: I recognize the way Rich acts around you. It’s the same way Joey was with me. The only difference is that we’d professed our love for each other.”
“I don’t know if it’s that easy,” I admit. “Rich told me he’s never been in love. What if I’m wrong? What if you’re wrong?” I swallow, remembering the way I thought I knew Abby after being friends for a few weeks. It turned out I hadn’t known her at all. “What if I’m just an infatuation to him?”
“No.” Min’s voice is firm. “You are not that to him. And he is not that to you, either. Ask yourself: Does he inspire you to be the best you? Are you willing to stay with him through the highest highs and the lowest lows? If the answer is what I think it is, then it’s definitely love.”
I exhale. “This is a lot to take in.”
“Nobody said it was going to be easy. If you need to talk, I’ll be here for you. Rich told me about your family. How you don’t know any of them.” Min smiles. “I know it’s fast, but already, you feel like a sister to me. I’ve never said that to any