Page 31

Liza

I climb on the bed and tuck myself in next to her. “I don’t want to put either of us through that, again.”

“He’s funny, and he doesn’t let you squirm.”

I prop my elbow up and rest my head in my hands. “Squirm?”

She wiggles her toes and nods her head in excitement. “Yep. You’re an expert at squirming and avoiding your feelings. He doesn’t let you.”

My mind wanders to the perfect night we just experienced. He thought out every single detail with only a small percentage that I would show up. Maybe I’ve been ignoring all the effort he’s been putting in. “Hmmm. I’ve never thought about it like that.”

“Plus, he’s hot.” She giggles and kicks her feet under the blanket.

I grab my pillow from under my head and shove it over my face. “He is, isn't he?” Inhaling a deep breath, my mind hones in on my biggest reservations. “What if he isn’t any different?”

She huffs and rolls her eyes. “Don’t go there.”

“Really, though. What if everything starts out shiny and new, but he gets tired of me, just like Layne did.”

“He won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?”

She props herself up on her elbows to look me straight in the eyes. “The looks he gives you. He doesn’t see anyone but you.” She sticks another finger up to count. “The way he begged you to spend a few hours with him at the apartment with your little sister. Layne didn’t do either of those things.”

Layne didn’t beg me to spend time with him. It was always the other way around. I was there, but more out of convenience than need or want. “You’re right.”

“I know I am.” Willow looks out of the window into the night, reaching over to trace her name on the foggy window made possible by the stark contrast in temperature from the warm, cozy dorm. “This is the best Christmas ever, and it’s just starting.”

Hearing Willow’s admission sends a flood of relief through my body.

I was starting to feel guilty about her missing the traditions we usually have in New Orleans during Christmas.

She wouldn’t get to visit City Park on Christmas Eve to see the lights or shop at our favorite mall and experience the chaos of last minute shoppers.

“I hope you don’t regret missing out on everything we used to do. ”

“Liza.” She grabs my shoulder and squeezes. “The best part of Christmas has always been you. You know Dad’s too busy working, and Mom’s too on a whim for me.”

I let out an uncontrollable laugh and grip my stomach. Mom and Willow have always been too different to understand each other. “But how do you like hanging out with me when I’m Mom’s clone?”

“You and Mom are hippies, but you’ve never left me.”

Her honesty hits me in the chest. I’d felt like a major burden lately with how much I had fallen off the rails in the months prior to leaving for college.

Partying too much. Coming home too late or worse, not coming home at all.

Changing my life plans to relocate to a new city hours away from home.

“I would never leave, Willow. You kept me afloat when I thought I was drowning.”

“That’s what sisters are for.”

A tear wells in the corner of my eyes, and I bat it away before getting all mushy right before bed. “Always, my girl.”