Page 88 of November

“We’re not?” India asked.

“I don’t know.Arewe?”

“I thought you’d hate me.”

“I don’t hate you,” Maisie replied. “Do I wish you had told me about him being your brother instead of me finding it out because of some ad? Yes, of course, I do. But you left yesterday before we could really talk about it.”

“It was election day. It wasn’t about us. It was–”

“I know. And I understandwhyyou left. I just wish you hadn’t.”

“I should’ve told you, Maisie. I just… I was in the shop that day he threatened you. I ran into the bathroom to hide, like an idiot, but I heard how he talked to you, and I wanted to kill him. I didn’t want you to know we were related. I didn’t want you to think I could ever be like him. Yes, I’m wealthy. I was born with money, and I know how that makes people feel sometimes. I was with Finley for years, and I don’t know that I ever even tried to give her what she needed. That was wrong, and–”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Maisie replied. “I know why you did it. And I don’t think I helped the situation at all.”

“What do you mean?”

“I haven’t made it easy on you to be who you are.”

India looked at her in confusion, hoping Maisie would continue and explain what she’d meant because from India’s perspective,shehad been the one to mess this thing up between them.

“I said no to a dateIhad asked you out to when you suggested someplace else. I know we’ve kind of turned it into something funny now, but I think you didn’t tell me about your brother because you might have been worried that you couldn’t actually be that part of yourself, at least.”

“Yeah,” India said.

“And that’s my fault. You don’t own that, India. I do. And I’m sorry.”

“It’s still my fault. If I had just told you, maybe I would have been there last night when you found out that you’d lost. You have no idea how much I wanted to be there, Maisie. I had the whole thing planned out.”

“You did?”

“I thought if you were up for it, we would go out for ice cream, just to take your mind off of things. There’s this great place outside of the city. I was going to take the long way, so that we could talk, and we’d eat outside.”

“I thought you wanted to do dinner.”

“That would’ve been tonight, probably. A nice restaurant, with good local beer and a wine list for me, after we’d fallen asleep at your place last night.”

“I wish we had done that,” Maisie replied with a soft smile.

“Me too,” India said.

“What would you say to going out with metonight?”

“I’d say yes.”

“And would you maybe let me plan it? I promise, it’s not a test or anything like that. I just know the best place for ice cream in the city, and it happens to be somewhere I’d like to take you,” Maisie said.

“You don’t want me to make a reservation somewhere?”

“I do, but not tonight. I feel like we could use a little fun; something chill and relaxed.”

“What, exactly, do you think will be chill and relaxed?”

“Just trust me, okay?”

“And this isn’t a test?”

“No, no more tests,” Maisie replied. “I promise.”