Page 72 of When We Were More

“Stay away from her, then. That’s what you mean?” He has one brow lifted as he stares at me, awaiting an answer.

“No. I’m not staying away from her.” The thought of not seeing Matilda makes me nauseous.

“But you’ll stop having sex with her. That might?—”

“No. Why do you keep saying annoying things?” I know why.

“Why doyoukeep acting like a dumbass when you’re usually intelligent?”

“I hate you.”

“That’s mature. The way I view it, either you stop seeing her, end everything, including the friendship, or you tell her how you’re feeling and you two navigate it from there like adults.”

“Fuck.” It comes out like a hiss.

After that, we sit in silence for a long while, until both of our glasses are empty. I glance over at him.

“Another?”

“Can I sleep on your couch?”

“Of course.”

“Hit me…”

“Oh, I’d like to,” I joke.

That’s how we spend the rest of the evening: me, my brother, and a bottle of top-shelf whiskey.

The next morning, with an aching head and a dry mouth, I remember that about whiskey. She’s fun for a night, but a bitch in the morning.

CHAPTER 27

Tillie

Why did I agree to this? I’ve been asking myself the same question for the last five minutes, tapping on my steering wheel as I stare at the brick colonial across the street.

“You know why. It’s that magic dick of his. He screwed you into an orgasm induced haze, then asked you. Twice.”

Great, now I’m talking to myself. This is crazy.

I about jump out of my skin when there’s a loud rapping on my passenger window. With my hand on my chest, I glance over, and Henry stares back at me. I shake my head and unlock the door, then he climbs into my passenger seat.

Damn, he looks good—dark jeans, a cashmere sweater, and no winter gear except a scarf around his neck.

“Hi,” I whisper.

“Hi. You’ve been sitting out here for a while, tiger. You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m rethinking this, Henry. This is a family event. I shouldn’t be here. I should go home.”

“Hey, no. No, you shouldn’t. Plus, it’s not only family. There are friends, too.”

“Who?”

“What?” His forehead wrinkles, and his eyes narrow.

“What friends are there? What if you’re only saying that to calm me down, and I get in there and it’s only your family?”