My cheeks rose as I scoffed. “There is that.” I turned my hand and squeezed Liv’s. “I’m good. Thank you for coming. Now that Julia is here...”
“You don’t need me.”
“I love her,” I said with all sincerity. “I fucking love her. This isn’t like any woman before her. I wish I could explain, but I can’t.”
“Red sin.”
My mouth opened as I stared at my sister.
“Remember the old wives’ tale about unexplainable attraction?” she asked. “Was it Grandma Thomas who would mention it? I always wanted that.” She sighed. “It isn’t real.”
It is.
Behind Liv, the door again opened. Looking up, I saw Michael nod as Julia entered.
“Go back to Texas. She needs you.”
Liv turned to the opening door. “I don’t know what you did.” Her voice was more genuine than before.
Julia stepped inside the room. “What did I do?”
Julia
Something in Olivia’s expression mellowed. I didn’t know what she and Van had discussed. I only knew that it was obvious that they needed to talk—alone. I’d hoped that by stepping away for a few minutes they would clear the air. In the few seconds I’d been back, it seemed they had.
“You tamed him.”
My cheeks rose as I looked from Liv to Van and back. “No, I never set out to change Van. I fell hopelessly in love with the man who found me.”
Liv came closer and offered me her hand. “Julia, may we start over? Even though Van and I haven’t been close, it’s difficult to stop being his big sister.”
Big sister.
“Van told me that he was born third.”
She looked at him. “At least you’ve told her something.”
“He told me about you, too,” I said.
“You have been all he’s talked about since he woke. I don’t know if he ever mentioned it, but our grandmother used to go on about legends and old wives’ tales. She said that red is the color of blood, sacrifice, danger, and courage…”
My gaze went to Van as Liv described red sin.
From across the room, I felt whatever it was that bound us. Whether a legend or an old wives’ tale, the feeling was real. It swirled around us and between us. Such as one would see in an animated movie, and it filled the space with comfort. We were together even if we appeared apart.
“He probably didn’t mention it,” Liv said.
I turned back to her. “He did.”
“Our family is five ways of fucked up, but I would like to not be a stranger.”
I nodded. “I don’t blame you for wondering about me. Our relationship happened fast. All I can do is promise you, big sister, that I’ll do my best to love your brother.”
Liv went to the window and picked up her coat and purse. “I have responsibilities in Texas, and now that I know Van’s in good hands, I can go back.” She looked at Van. “Call me. Share my number with Julia. If you can let her inside those walls you’ve constructed, maybe you can let us all in.”
“That’s a tall order.”
“Maybe me?”