“What isn’t?”
“That you weren’t there. I never told you. You didn’t know. And when you did,” I pause to take a breath, “you came for me.”
He takes his time responding.
Probably absorbing my words.
The truth.
Because I don’t blame him. Not anymore.
It’s hard work, blaming someone who’s trying to do the right thing.
Who’s trying to be more than what you always knew them to be.
He makes another noncommittal sound, which means he didn’t believe it. The truth. Which is fine I guess. I’ll just keep telling him then.
Until he does.
Then, “If your soccer club offer still stands, I’d love to join you.”
That makes him relax.
It also makes him smile a little bit. “Yeah?”
“Yup. Would love a chance to kick your ass.”
He chuckles again. “Yeah, we’ll see about that.”
I chuckle too.
And then I think about how happy she’ll be. When I tell her.
That I’m doing what she always wanted me to do.
That I’m bonding with my brother.
But more than that, I’m believing.
I believe.
In what she told me. In her.
And the fact that I’m in love with her. I’ve been in love with her for years now And I’m finally,fucking finally, going to make my move.
I’m finally coming for her.
My sweet, pink-loving, sassy, drama queen Bubblegum.
CHAPTERFORTY-FOUR
He lied.
For me.
In all of this, that’s the only thing that I can think about. That he lied to Lucas.
About the kiss.