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“There’s one example right there, then.”
“I want to believe you, it’s just ... this has been my life for too long. Nothing comes without a cost.”
“That’s because I haven’t been around. I’ll change it.”
“Nick is going to be mad.”
“And?”
“I’veneverseen him like that, Stella. At least not with me. I’m sure you’ve fought, but this was another level. It’s not the man you know.”
She pressed her lips together. “He could have matured.”
“And if he didn’t?”
“Then I’m seeing my brother for the man that he is. We all see people’s true colors eventually.”
“I don’t want you to fight with your brother for me.”
“And I didn’t want him to fight withyoufor me. Don’t you see the common denominator? He was unreasonable then. And if he is now, then whatever happens is on him.”
I huffed out a laugh. “You’ll really stand up to him?”
“He deserves it for what he did seven years ago.”
Stella made all of my worries sound so manageable. I’d never been around anyone who could do that. “I should have told you what he did.”
“I’m guessing you were afraid of the consequences if you did.”
“Very.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I still am. But ... I’m sorry it took seven years for us to talk about it.”
“I was mad. You were living in fear. It doesn’t help that we’re both stubborn. We just had to wait for a snowstorm to give us a second chance.”
“I still can’t believe you’re even giving me one.”
“I can. Remember my high school crush? No one wanted me anyway, but I wanted you.”
I winced. “That’s not ... entirely true.”
“What?”
“We caught a couple of guys talking about you once. One wanted to ask you out and see how quickly you’d sleep with him.”
Stella’s face twisted. “Really? Like some sort of bet to see if the ugly girl would put out?”
“Stella, you were beautiful, even if some people didn’tsee it. You were nice to everyone, always smiling. Other than that fucker, you had options, but you were around us all the time.”
“Well, shitty guys have always been a part of my life, so that trend probably would have continued.”
“I’m not going to be one of them.”
Her smile was soft, and no cell in my body could find a way to regret this choice.
I was able to sneak in one kiss before the home phone rang again, which pulled Stella away. It was her parents checking in, eager to hear that we were both okay after being secluded for so long. Stella and I told them about our adventures and then grabbed another muffin for a snack.
“Is that blueberry?”
“Unfortunately, I’m tired of the chocolate ones.” She took a bite and then grimaced. “Correction: I’m tired ofallof them. Even the soup.”