“But she doesn't now?”
“Not exactly.”
“Can we stop with this weird guessing game. I really don't want to play along. My leg is starting to hurt and I'd like to go take a bath. Just tell me her name.”
I look at her without blinking and open my eyes wider. With arched brows and an awkward smile, I shrug.
“Holy shit.” She's figuring it out. I can see it on her face. The muscles in her face go slack as her nostrils flare. “You're fucking with me. I know you're fucking with me.”
“I'm not fucking with you at all.”
Betty sits up fast and presses her fingers to her temples. “Just so we're on the same page, you're telling me it's Anna. Right?”
“It is. I. . . I don't think I want to go on this trip anymore. I want to stay here with her, and maybe live you with you guys. I've fallen hard for her, Betty.”
Shit. Here it is.
This is what I'm worried about. Anna is her friend. The fact that I'm telling her I've fallen for her friend is like a gut punch. No sister wants to find out that her big brother has been sleeping with her friend.
I brace myself, waiting for her to slug me as hard as she can. She lowers her head into her hands, and exhales a huge sigh. I don't try to calm her down or make excuses to make her feel better. Whatever she feels, I'll deal with it.
“Dash, you have no idea—”
I cut her off. I at least need her to know that this wasn't what I wanted. I didn't want to piss her off. “I know, I know. I'm sorry. I didn't plan on this happening, but it did.”
“Dash, just shut up and let me finish.” She turns to face me, sitting up straighter. “I was going to say you have no idea how happy I am to hear that.”
“Wait, are you serious?”
“Yes, I'm serious. Anna is a great person. If you fell for anyone, I'm glad it's her. But if this is true, why does Anna seem so upset lately? I mean, she's hardly here when you're here, and even if you two are in the same room, it's like you're both pissed.”
“She isn't happy with me right now, and I don't know why.”
“Did you do something?”
“I don't think so. She quit her job because of her asshole boss, and when we were talking one night, I brought up my plans to take a trip and how I put them on hold—”
“For me,” she interjects. “Which I greatly appreciate by the way.”
“I know you do, otherwise I wouldn't be here. But after Anna said I should go for it, that I should just do it, I decided I would. So, she was freaking out about not having a job, and since I decided to go on my trip, I talked to Jed and he agreed to give her my job.”
“Well, I can tell you right now what you did wrong.”
“You can?”
“Uh yeah.” Her jaw hangs open, crooked to the side as she gives me the same look she used to when we were kids.
“Tell me what the hell I did then, because I can't figure it out. All I know is that since I told her all this, she's been pissed off and avoiding me.”
“Because, dip-shit, she likes you too and you're leaving.”
“But I don't think I'm going to leave anymore.”
“She doesn't know that. All she knows is that she likes you and thought you liked her, and now you're up and leaving. And you went and got her a job without talking to her first. If you know her at all, you know she's a pretty independent person. She doesn't want handouts, but she does want you.”
Holy shit, she's right.
My sister is actually right about this, and I couldn't see it. I made all these plans without Anna. I made decisions for her and never asked her what she thought or wanted. I made her feel like she's my girlfriend, and then chose to leave without a simple conversation about actually doing it.
I'm a fucking idiot.
“What the hell did I do?” I ask, the question directed more at me than her. But my sister answers anyway.
“You acted before thinking.”
“I can't believe I didn't see it.”
“I can,” she says with a laugh as she elbows me in the ribs. “But, while we're on the topic of apartments and secrets, I have a secret too.”
“Oh, you do? And what's that?”
“I'm actually really glad you want to stay here, because I can't.”
“What do you mean you can't?”
“Well, while I was in the hospital, I decided that I don't want to just work odd jobs to make ends meet. I want to become a nurse.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, I do. I actually already signed up to start classes in the fall. When they start, I'll have to move back home so I can focus on that, and not have to worry about anything else. I already talked to Mom and Dad and they're excited for me.”