Page 46 of One Week With You
“So you’re really okay up there?” Leo asked.
“I’m fine. It’s still freezing but the snow stopped finally. I got my white Christmas,” I added with a fond smile. Standing on the front step that Christmas morning, wrapped in a blanket with Rafe while the snow drifted down around us was a moment I would never forget. The happiness had been all-consuming.
“So you and Rafe aren’t trapped anymore?”
“Well, we can’t get the cars out down the hill yet but… ” My stomach lurched. “You knew he was here?”
“Of course, dummy. Mum wanted to know why he wasn’t joining us for Christmas. He told us his plans.”
But that meant my mum had known he was here when we last spoke on the phone. She’d never said a word. “His plans to…?”
“Go to the cottage with you? Yes.”
“Well, he didn’t exactly come with me. He arrived later.”
“Tomato tomahto. Mum was thrilled. Word of warning, she might already be planning your wedding. We all wondered how long the two of you have been going on.”
My brain blanked, long enough that Leo had to call my name to jolt me out of my silent stupor.
“I’m gonna shelve the whole wedding thing for later,” I said calmly, even though my pulse had rocketed. “We were never on a romantic getaway. But for argument’s sake, let’s say we were. You’re okay with it?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I mean…” I circled my hand vacantly even though he couldn’t see the gesture. “He’s your best friend.”
“And?”
I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. He wasn’t getting it. “I’m telling you something happened between us and you’re fine with it?”
“Again, why wouldn’t I be? I’m not your keeper, you do whoever you want. That’s your business.”
I made a throaty noise of objection. “Try telling that to Danny Sheldon.”
“Who?”
“My first ever boyfriend? You and Oliver terrified the shit out of him when he came to pick me up for a date and after that he refused to come to the house whenever you were home. Jacob once shot him right in the eye with his Nerf blaster and he had to wear an eye patch for over a week.”
“Ohhhh, that snivelling turd. He was a loser. He doesn’t count.”
“But Rafe does?”
“I don’t know,” Leo said seriously. “You tell me.”
My brothers knew exactly how to wind me up, but Leo had a particular knack for it. “Yes, he counts,” I admitted with a huff.
“Good. What kind of shitty best friend would I be if I didn’t think he was good enough for my sister? If there was anyone I’d be okay with, it’s Rafe. He’s one of the best guys I know.”
My heart fluttered. “Leo…”
“Again, not that you need my approval or that he needs it. But you both have it, if that’s important to you.” The line went quiet, the pause as heavy as the lump in my throat. “Talia, have you been worrying about this?”
“YES. For ten years now. Probably longer. I don’t know.”
“Well, shit,” Leo said, dumbfounded. “Why? That’s stupid.”
“I don’t know!” I sounded as hysterical as I felt. “I thought there was some bro code or whatever. Anyway, if you’re fine with it, why did Rafe take so long to tell me he likes me?”
I couldn’t believe how much time we’d wasted. When I thought of all the things we could’ve done together already, my fists clenched painfully. There was nothing I despised more than wasted time.
