I turn to her. “Are you dating someone?”
“Well…sort of.” She shrugs, her cheeks flushed. “That guy from algebra.”
“Who’s also in your history class, right?”
She nods. “He’s cute and super nice. But don’t tell Elliot, because he’ll get all overprotective. I want to wait until, like, our third month before saying anything to him.”
“Okay. I can do that.”
“So…?”
Right. Her question. “When the initial attraction cools a bit and you can actually hear yourself think again, you’ll know.”
“What if it never cools?”
I purse my lips. “Then maybe it’s true love.”
She starts texting again.
My phone buzzes. I look down, then still at my sister’s question. Did it happen for you and Elliot? I raise my head and look at her, suddenly unsure why she’s asking. “Nonny…”
She raises a finger, then types again. I mean the cooling thing. I know you guys fought at least once.
I sigh. People occasionally fight. You and I fight
sometimes too.
But you said our bond is greater—blood and all. I’m your family forever.
A tight lump forms in my throat. I swallow, then answer, Yes, you are. But that doesn’t mean what I have with Elliot is any less. I love him, Nonny.
What about him? Does he love you, too?
I think—I pause, wondering what he feels about me. He hasn’t said the L-word, but surely he feels it. Why else would he have ripped up our contract? I delete what I wrote and just type, Yes.
I watch her expression as she reads my text. Her mouth curls into a brilliant smile. She turns to me. “I’m so happy for you, Anna. You deserve happiness more than anybody.”
“Everyone deserves to be happy.”
“Not the way you do. I know what you gave up for me.”
“I didn’t give up a thing for you,” I say as the skin around my eyes grows hot. “I did what any older sister would’ve done, and I wanted to do it. It was no trouble.”
“You could’ve let someone foster me.”
“Over my dead body.” I exhale slowly so I don’t start crying. “If you love someone, nothing you do for them is really a sacrifice.”
She reaches over and holds my hand. “I love you too.”
I squeeze hers back. Moments like this I can believe my life will always be perfect…with a fairytale ending.
* * *
Elliot
Belle is out with Nonny getting a massage and having her nails done. I encouraged them to indulge—I could sense they needed some sisterly bonding time, plus I wanted them to treat themselves. I love the way my wife glows after a good pampering.
Meanwhile, I shop. I don’t generally shop for gifts myself, but I can’t have my assistant do it when it’s for my wife’s birthday next week.