Page 47 of One Week With You
“I don’t know,” Leo admitted. “I’m not a mind reader. It’s Rafe. He’s not exactly an open book. Maybe he didn’t know you were interested? Because I have to admit, I had no clue you liked him. You kept that close to your chest. If I didn’t know, how the hell was Rafe supposed to?”
Damn. It made sense when he put it like that. I was also a better actress than I realised. All this time I’d been convinced everyone could see it.
“I thought I had to hide it,” I said, more to myself than anything. “I thought he didn’t like me like that.”
The regret shadowing his face after our drunken kiss haunted my dreams, even now.
“Well, maybe he felt the same way.” Leo paused and then burst out laughing. “Can you imagine if you’d talked to each other years ago? You might be married with kids by now.”
“Don’t.” Tears beaded at the corners of my eyes, the ache in my chest palpable. “I… I don’t want to hear that.”
“Talia, I… Shit. I’m sorry. I’m an asshole.”
“No, you’re not. It’s just… It kills me to say it but in some ways Mum’s right, you know? I don’t know if you’ve ever worried about those sorts of things, but I have. It’s something that’s always there in the back of my mind. And right now, it hurts that maybe I could’ve had everything I’ve ever wanted if I’d been open about things. If we’d both been open about things.”
If only I’d been brave…
“I’m sorry,” Leo said, and the genuine note in his voice made the ache harder.
“It’s fine. I’m feeling sorry for myself, that’s all. I’ll be okay.”
“Maybe you can still have all of those things. It’s not too late.”
“Maybe,” I said, shaking my head at myself and everything.
Leo was quiet for a long moment, whether to absorb the conversation or give me time to do so, I didn’t know. “Technically, it’s still Christmas and you’re not supposed to cry at Christmas, remember?”
I sniffled and huffed out a croaky, wet-sounding laugh. Our mum would never stand for tears at this time of year, even if our hearts were breaking. “You’re right.”
“How about we change the subject, huh? Talking about your love life bores me to tears anyway.”
“Wait until it’s your love life, then we’ll talk.”
“Hah! I’m forty years old. That ship has sailed.”
“What? That has to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard you say. You make it sound like you’re eighty. Don’t be daft.”
“I’m happy as I am. Not everyone settles down. I’m fine with it.”
“I know. And not to be all Mum about it, but part of me would like you to have someone to share your life with, as long as it makes you happy. Is that so bad?”
“No, it’s sweet. You’re sweet. Even if I wanna wring your neck sometimes.”
“Well, now you ruined this lovely brother-sister conversation we were having. Goodbye.”
Leo chuckled. “You know I just want you to be happy too, right?”
“I know.”
“Stay safe, okay?”
“I will. There’s not really much trouble I can get in up here anyway.”
“For fuck’s sake, Talia, don’t jinx it.”
“Bye!”
I laughed as I hung up and smiled at the phone until the screen darkened. Still nothing from Rafe. All I could do now was wait. And maybe when he returned, I would finally be brave.
