Page 61 of Every Time We Touch

“Isn’t there some sort of mechanism inside you that should stop you having these feelings?” Heather looks at me as though that’s even a valid question.

“If there is, it’s not working for me.” Nor for Clancy, as has become crystal clear.

“You’re tearing me right in half here, Jen.” Heather’s voice has grown smaller again. “I want to support you, but he’s my dad, too.”

I nod. I understand.

“And what if it actually works out between you?” She fixes her gaze on me. “How’s that going to go? Are you bringing her to Sunday brunch the way Dad did?”

“I can’t think long-term like that right now.”

“Let’s think short-term then.” Heather sits up straight. “You may have genuine feelings for her, but so does Dad. You heard how he talked about her. You saw him. That doesn’t just go away because she picked you to be with.” She huffs out some air. “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation.” She slants her head and looks at me. “Ultimately, doesn’t this come down to respect? Not just respect for your father and his feelings, but also, well, self-respect, I guess.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my self-respect,” I bite back. “But, of course, I hate hurting Dad.”

“What about Austin and Lauren? I imagine you’ll be telling them next?” She looks me in the eye again. “Is she really that special that you’re willing to go through all that?”

“I know what I feel.” I don’t look forward to that talk with my other siblings. “And, yes.”

“You must really have it bad.” She purses her lips. “Also, my sister has all these feelings for someone I hardly know anything about. Well, apart from the obvious.” She drums her fingertips on the countertop. “What makes her so special, then?”

A grin breaks on my face. “She’s a very good tango teacher.” I’d best not emphasize how hot Clancy is—besides, she may be straight but my sister has eyes in her head. “She’s just… all the things, you know.”

“All the things.” Heather nods as though she knows exactly what I mean—I know that she does.

“I’m smitten. Head over heels. Crazy about her. And there are a thousand reasons for that.”

“I will always fight your corner,” Heather says. “I hope you know that.”

I do and I don’t, because standing up for me to the rest of our family right now is a challenge, even for my twin.

“And if this is serious, I will need to get to know Clancy better, obviously.” She flashes a much-needed smile.

“Thank you.”

“The others aren’t going to be as easygoing about this as I am,” Heather says.

Don’t I know it. “One sibling at a time,” I say.

“It’s always a good idea to start with the smartest, most enlightened one.” Heather slips off her chair. “Come here. I missed you.” She holds open her arms, and I can’t fling myself into her embrace quickly enough.

Chapter 34

Clancy

Eric didn’t have to agree to meet me, but here I stand, outside his front door, my finger hovering over his doorbell. My respect for Jen only grows. Because this is hard. I take a breath, then press down.

Eric doesn’t look like a man whose ex-girlfriend has run off with his daughter but then again, what would that kind of man even look like? More disheveled, perhaps. More unshaven and unkempt. Eric looks like he’s going to a business meeting instead of having me over, all suited up and meticulously groomed.

“Thank you for seeing me.” I linger awkwardly in the living room.

Eric heads to the kitchen. I follow him. He leans against the counter and just looks at me for a few seconds.

Before I can speak, he says, “I realize that I’m just some old guy who never quite understood what a woman like you saw in me, but that doesn’t mean this doesn’t hurt.”

“Understandably so.”

“Understandably? Nothing about this is understandable.”