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“False. I’m worried you’re both going to gethurt and neither of you are going to want to talk to me everagain.” He held out the joint. “There. That’s how you do it.”
“You haven’t smoked in years, though,”Charlotte said under her breath.
I intervened before the sibling bickeringcould gain steam. “If Charlotte and I break up, I’m not going totreat her badly. And I’m not going to treat you any differently.Frankly, I’m tired of having to tell you that. Either you trust me,or you don’t. And if you don’t, what’s the point of being friendswith someone you don’t trust?”
He didn’t say anything.
“And do you really think I’m never going totalk to you again?” Charlotte threw up her hands. “Do you know howridiculous that sounds?”
“Family members go no-contact all the time,”he protested.
“Yeah, but do you really think I’m going todo that over a breakup?” Charlotte demanded. “Like Matt said,where’s the trust?”
“It’s different with you,” Scott argued.“I’ve always wanted to be your big brother, but let’s face it, youhaven’t always been psyched to be my little sister.”
Ouch.I hadn’t thought of thatcomponent of things. I’d thought Scott was being petty andunreasonable, but maybe he did have serious fears.
Charlotte’s stricken face told me she hadn’tthought of it that way either. “Scott… I don’tnotwant tobe your sister.”
“I know it’s nothing personal,” he began. “Iknow you don’t blame me for what our parents decided back when Iwas sick. But come on. It hasn’t been easy for you. And if thisthing with Matt doesn’t work out, that’s another heartache that Iwas peripherally involved in.”
He turned in his seat slightly to face me.“And you can’t walk right because of my stupid ex-fiancée.”
“Technically, it was the bear,” I tried tojoke.
“How can you even stand for me to be hereright now?” he asked. “How did you not cut me off immediately afterI wasted all your money and got you mauled by a bear?”
“Because you’re my friend, and I want tohang out with you. Most of the time,” I amended. “Not when you’rebeing strange about my dating life.”
“So, to be clear, this entire spat is due toyour insecurity?” Charlotte asked Scott.
He sat uncomfortably quiet for a longmoment.
“Right.” She blew out a breath. “So, this isayouproblem, Scott. This isn’t anusproblem. Wedon’t owe you any further explanation or understanding. You have togrow up and deal with this. Because we can’t keep reassuring you ifyou’re not going to trust us.”
I agreed with her, but I was glad she’d saidit and not me.
“I mean, you don’t even know if we work as acouple,” she went on. “We do. I’m so fucking happy, Scott. I’mhappier than I think I’ve ever been in a relationship. Maybehappier than I’ve ever been, in general. And you don’t like thatfor me?”
Her words made my chest clench up and bloodpound to my head. Charlotte was always so coy with her feelings, atleast with me.Imade her happier than she’d ever been in arelationship?Imight make her happier than she’s ever been,full-stop?
I wanted to grab her up and kiss her untilshe passed out, but Scott’s presence hampered that. I settled fortaking her hand in mine and giving it a squeeze.
“Can you try to be happy for us?” I asked.And I hated that I had to ask my best friend such a thing.
Scott stared out at the long expanse of thegardens, not saying anything. And we gave him time, because we’dsaid all we had to say on the subject. At least, as far as I wasconcerned.
Except for one thing.
“I envy you,” I blurted. “You two have abond that I wish my sister and I had. I don’t want this to be thething that damages that.”
Scott huffed. “Bro, I love you, but there’sno way you’re ever getting between me and my sister like that. I’mgoing to take her side, every time.” Finally, he tossed his handsup. “If you’re both happy, I’m happy.”
“See? It wasn’t that hard,” Charlotte said.“Now, are we going to light that thing?”
“One second. I have to go to the bathroom.”Scott pushed his chair back. “Don’t spark it up without me.”
When he left, Charlotte and I sat in silencelong enough that it started to feel uncomfortable. And I wasn’tused to being uncomfortable around Charlotte.