tingled my scalp. It felt like a swarm of mosquitoes danced on my head. I don’t know what I was more jealous about—Cameron forming a bond with my brother, or my brother feeling more comfortable talking to my ex.
About?
Sports, video games . . . you.
Oh. That’s okay, then. A wide grin spread across my face. Cam talked about me. I knew he missed me, missed us. It was just a matter of time before he got over the whole marriage thing.
That’s cool. So . . . wondering if you’re free next week? I’d love to catch up.
I leaned away from the table, high on optimism—like I’d just had a good cigar and a great glass of Scotch.
I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m not ready to talk yet. That’s why I didn’t pick up the phone.
The steady hum from the coffee shop disappeared.
Not ready to talk. He doesn’t want to hear from me.
A sharp pain burned my chest.
I studied the message again, and my eyes zoned in on a word: yet. He wasn’t ready to talk yet.
“I’m not giving up on you, Cameron.”
* * *
“Damn, how much stuff do you have?” My brother swiped his brow and leaned against the moving truck.
I smirked. “What’s the point of having all those muscles if you can’t use them to move your big sister’s most precious treasures?”
After we had lunch a few weeks ago, I casually mentioned I was moving in with Kara the following Saturday. Vic had volunteered to help in exchange for a six-pack of beer. I tried to give him money but he adamantly turned me down. My brother thought I was dirt poor. The just-graduated civil engineer thought he was balling and refused to let me pay for lunch. It was damn embarrassing, and I needed to make money from this book, pronto.
Vic gulped from a water bottle and then exhaled. “This was not the type of thing I’d imagined we’d do when I discovered I had a sibling.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble. But the advantage of not knowing me when we were kids is that I didn’t dress you up in my Barbie’s mannequin clothes. Mr. Puff Puff, my poor neighbor’s dog, God rest his soul, couldn’t walk right after I stuffed his paws into Barbie’s plastic heels.”
My brother laughed tiredly. “I don’t know what’s more ridiculous, the dog dressed in drag or his name.”
“Definitely his name.” I punched his shoulder easily. Somehow, my brother had quickly carved out a space in my heart, and I cared again. He was smart, charming, and a little geeky and shy, but that totally worked for him. Best of all, he was the complete opposite of our father. Thank God.
“Raina!” Kara yelled from the porch of her home. “Can I start organizing your closet?”
I gave her a thumbs-up. “Go crazy.”
“She’s cute.” Little brother gave Kara a head bob and a slow smile I’m sure he thought was sexy.
“She’s old. Avert your eyes, young’un.”
“I can’t promise that.” He shook his head. “Anyway, I think you’re good to go. I don’t do the unpacking stuff, so I’ll see you next weekend.”
“A whole week?” I poked out my bottom lip. “What are you up to?”
“I’m visiting Dad. You want to come?” he asked me, and it was not his first time.
“Nah.” I shook my head. “I’ve got to get my stuff unpacked. Plus, I’m on deadline.”
“Sure, you are.” He gave me a tight smile. “Well, it’s a standing offer. I go to the hospice every Sunday, but this time I’m staying for a few days.”
“Got ya. Text me when you return.”
“Okay.” He hugged me. “Bye, Rae-Rae.”
* * *
Just two weeks into living together, Kara and I were circling each other like starving alley cats. After fifteen years of friendship, we realized how much we didn’t know about each other. I thought Kara was extreme with all her competition and wine obsession, which got on my nerves at times, but now I missed it. Brokenhearted Kara was pathetic. It was like seeing a blind newborn kitten struggle to get out of a basket.
She went to wine practice or whatever the hell she called it, worked at the restaurant, where she’d cut her hours in half so she could focus on her studies, and then returned home to study flash cards. Which was what she was doing now.
I needed to break this shit because her boring ass was seeping into me. I got up, ate, wrote, watched Netflix, and slept.
I flopped on the love seat