Page 13 of This Time Around
“I’m being serious.”
“I am too.” I gestured to her forehead with my fork. “I don’t think your eyebrows are even related, let alone sisters. I think you should insist on a DNA test.”
“I have an appointment with Josh after work. He’ll sort them out.”
“And maybe he can fix your roots too,” I suggested.
“Aren’t we a catty bitch today. What’s the matter, Milo? Andy won’t take the bait and play your silly games?”
“Look who’s being bitchy now,” I replied with an exaggerated pout.
“Did you guys have a fight?” Maegan almost sounded hopeful. She probably thought we’d kiss and make up afterward and everything would be magical and perfect. That’s how it used to be when we were younger, but we were so far removed from the boys we used to be.
“Let’s talk about you and the detective instead. I heard that one of your neighbors filed a noise complaint with the police department last night.”
Maegan’s face turned blood red. “Oh my God!”
“Yes! That’s what you were shouting at the top of your lungs when Mrs. Kippert walked by with little Mitzy. Good thing she had her cell phone handy and reported the possible abuse going on inside your house.”
My twin sister covered her face with her hands. “I can’t believe this,” she mumbled. “I should be mortified that they sent a cruiser by to check on me, but they were just doing their job.”
“Hopefully it’s just your ego that’s bruised and not your cervix,” I teased. “Are you getting a manicure while you’re at Curl Up and Dye? You could get a purplish-blue polish to mark the occasion.”
“Milo!” Maegan practically shouted. “Quit deflecting and tell me what’s going on with Andy.”
“It’s nothing,” I told her, waving away the concern I saw in her eyes.
“I call bullshit. I’ve seen every emotion cross your face this morning. That’d be great if you were a mime putting on a show, but I can tell that Andy working so close recently has taken a toll on you. I’m sorry that I pushed the idea of renovating the second floor into apartments. I had hoped it would force the two of you to see how much you still mean to one another.”
“Things are really fucked up, Maegan. I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I’ve played this game with him for so long that I’m not sure he would believe me if I suddenly stopped.” I told her about my two most recent exchanges with Andy. She just shook her head sadly. “It’s not just me though, Mae. I tried to meet him halfway and only asked for him to tell me why he stayed away so damn long, and he wouldn’t even tell me that.”
“Oh, Milo,” Mae said softly. “In case you haven’t noticed, Andy is nothing like the proud, arrogant guy who left town fourteen years ago. I suspect his reasons for staying away are the same ones that caused him to become a more humble person.” Maegan reached across the table and squeezed my hand briefly. “I would never encourage you to pursue someone I thought was bad for you or didn’t want you. Andy wants you, and I know he is the right guy for you. It’s time for both of you to stop playing games, take a chance, and be honest with one another. I know you’ve tried but give him time to accept that you really meant it. Why would he bare his soul to you if you weren’t truly vested in hearing it? Don’t give up, Milo.”
I thought about Maegan’s words for the rest of my shift. She was right. Andy and I both deserved better than to live this way with the constant bickering back and forth while trying to make each other jealous. I was the one who broke Andy’s heart fourteen years ago, so I would need to be the one who broke the vicious cycle.
Andy’s truck was still parked in the alley behind the shop when I finished work for the day. He must’ve seen Tucker’s SUV parked behind the café when he arrived for work and jumped to all kinds of conclusions. I wouldn’t be able to repair two years of ridiculousness with a few words, but I could at least set him straight about Tucker.
My second time up to the apartments was a little slower and a whole lot more hesitant without anger and annoyance propelling me up the steps. I rehearsed what I wanted to say, but totally lost my train of thought when I came face-to-face with Andy. More like face to chest. Oh. Dear. God. His bare chest was sexier than I even imagined. I just stood there staring at his masculine perfection, not bothering to ask why he was sweatier than normal. I was just grateful for my blessings.
“I think something is wrong with the thermostat,” Andy said. “It just keeps getting hotter and hotter in here.”You could say that again.“I’ve called Paul to come check it out. It could be something simple, so don’t worry that you’ll have to replace the heating system.”
“I’m not worried,” I said when I could finally speak.
“My eyes are up here,” Andy said wryly.
I snapped my eyes up to meet his. He smiled broadly, and I think I breathed easy for the first time that day. It was the carefree grin I had known and loved so much when we were teenagers. “About Tucker—” I stopped when the smile slid from his face.
“I don’t want to know.”
“Andy,” I said patiently. “Let me finish. There is nothing going on between Tucker and me. He wants there to be, but he knows it won’t happen.”
Andy snorted. “You sure looked chummy this morning, or do all your early-morning clients kiss you?”
“He kissed me on the forehead and cheek,” I explained. “It was a gesture to show he accepted that friendship was all I could offer him.”
“Forehead kisses are your favorite, or has that changed?”
I was still a sucker for them. If I thought about it hard enough, I could recall how right Andy’s lips felt pressed to my forehead. Of course, his kisses lingered and led to more kisses. That’s probably what he thought happened between Tucker and me that morning. Later, I could speak my mind about him jumping to conclusions, but right then I only wanted to assure him of one thing.