“I’m fine with it. Honestly.” I flashed her a smile to prove myself. “That was in the past. I had a lot of crushes; he wasn’t the only one.” Part truth, part lie. Dawson was the only one I still thought about though. He was the only one who had mattered.
“Are you sure?” A glimmer of relief flickered through her hazel eyes.
“Yes.” Not one hundred percent yet, but I would be. With a little time. I had no other choice. “He makes you happy. I like seeing you happy, Em. You deserve it.” I reached out, and took her hand in mine.
“Thank you.” The tension melted from her, softening her facial features and bringing a glistening quality to her eyes. “I was worried there for a minute. I didn’t want you to leave hating me. I noticed how shocked you were when you saw the two of us together. I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. I thought I mentioned it, but I think every time I call you, I go on and on about Mom and her doctor appointments.”
“It’s okay. I get it.” I popped the handle out on my suitcase so I could roll it through the house behind me. “I’m looking forward to October.” I winked, and then sidestepped her, rolling my suitcase behind me.
October twenty-fourth. That was the date I overheard them mentioning to everyone at the party. It seemed so soon, but I guess when you knew you wanted to be with someone for the rest of your life, dragging out a yearlong engagement was a waste of time.
“You’ll have to come back before then.” Emma followed through the hall behind me. “I’ll need your help picking out a dress.”
“You know it.” I glanced at her from over my shoulder. “At least your colors are easy. We all know you’ll pick purple.”
“I just don’t know what shade.”
“No eggplant. That has got to be the ugliest color.” I scrunched my nose up. “Go with lavender.” I paused once I made it to the front door.
“We’ll see.” A mischievous grin plastered on her face.
“Is Mom taking a nap?” I hadn’t gotten a chance to say goodbye to her yet.
“Yeah. Call later and talk with her. I’m sure she’ll want to know you made it back okay.”
“I will,” I said, even though I knew I wouldn’t. I didn’t want to ruin the memory I had of her from today. It was the longest stretch of normalcy from her I’d witnessed all weekend.
“Do you have enough money for gas?”
I patted my back pocket. “I’m good.”
“All right.” She stepped past me, and held the screen door open wide enough for me to squeeze through with my suitcase.
I maneuvered it over the doorway, and across the porch. When I made it to the first step, I paused.
“Here, let me.” Dawson’s deep voice startled me. I hadn’t realized he was here.
“Thanks.” I moved out of his way, and let him carry my suitcase down the stairs to my car.
Emma wrapped her arm around me as we followed behind him. “Call me when you get to the dorms, okay?”
“I will.” I wouldn’t. She would get a text, and we both knew it.
A fat droplet of rain landed on my head as we stood beside my car. Great. There was nothing I hated more than driving in the pouring rain—well, maybe driving in snow. I glanced up at the sky, checking out the black clouds rolling in. More droplets fell, splattering against the concrete of our driveway as well as my skin. It looked like Jeff had been right about that crazy storm coming through.
“Be careful, okay?” Emma pulled me in for another hug.
“Yup.” I squeezed her tight. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
“It was nice seeing you again, Charlotte,” Dawson said. His voice combined with the cold drops of rain splattering against me caused goose bumps to prickle across my skin.
“You too.” It was, but for reasons I shouldn’t feel. “See you guys.”
I climbed into my car before the sky opened up. My sister waved once more as Dawson wrapped an arm around her waist and started pulling her with him toward the porch. A wide smile spread across Emma’s face, and the sound of her laughter penetrated through the windows of my car. The rain hitting the roof couldn’t drown out its beauty. She was so happy with him. I swallowed hard and ripped my eyes away from them.
I cranked my engine, knowing I needed to get over whatever this funk was. My sister was marrying Dawson. So what?
I backed out of the driveway, and started down the street. Distance and time. Those were the two things I needed most. Maybe they would both allow the shock to wear off, and the next time I came home for a visit I wouldn’t feel so damn heartbroken at the sight of them together.
SADIE BARELY GAVE ME enough time to get through the door before she forced me to brush my hair and apply more eyeliner. There was a local band made up of college guys she wanted to go see playing at one of the bars downtown. Apparently, the drummer had given her an invitation backstage, and she had been dying for me to get home so we could go.
“They have the best long island ice teas, and I’ve heard the wings are good. Please don’t get them though.” A disgusted look crossed her face. “There is nothing more disgusting than someone with barbeque sauce discoloring their teeth.”
“Yeah, there is. Someone with it crusted over their cuticles, trying to lick it off,” I added.
She made a gagging noise that sounded real, and a visible shiver slipped through her body. I laughed. Grossing Sadie out had always been too easy, and way too much fun.
“Anyway, no wings. Order fries or whatever else they have, but no wings.”
“Got it.” I applied a little eyeliner, and then searched the room for my jacket. The rain had yet to let up, and I knew I would be cold if I didn’t bring one with me.
“Here.” Sadie handed me the one I had been searching for. Sometimes I swore she could read my mind. It was sort of creepy at times.
I grabbed my jacket from her, and pulled it on. “I’m ready when you are.”
She was looking at herself in the mirror above her dresser, smoothing a finger beneath her eyes. “I’ve been ready all day for this.” She locked arms with me, and started toward the door.
“Wait. I forgot my phone.” I darted back inside to grab it. Once I found it, I checked to see if Emma had responded to my text yet. She hadn’t.
I’d sent her a message earlier, letting her know I’d made it back okay, but she hadn’t replied. Generally, she was quick to respond, but not this time. I wondered if it was because she was too busy enjoying herself with Dawson. My nose crinkled at the thought.
“Find it?” Sadie called from the doorway.
I held it up. “Got it.”
“Let’s go, then!” Excitement bubbled through her words, and she flashed me a contagious smile.
“All right, let’s go.” I slipped out the door, pausing in the hall, while I waited for her to lock it behind us.
“Move those feet, sister!” Sadie pushed me from behind until I was walking down the hall at a pace she felt was acceptable.
“So, how did you meet this drummer guy?” She was always meeting guys in the most random places.
“In the laundry center.”
“Seriously?” That was not the first time she’d met someone there. I didn’t understand how she always found sexy, available guys there when all I ever spotted where fat, pimply ones with shirts ten sizes too small.
“Yeah. I was folding my clothes at one of those tables when he walked up to use the washing machine behind me. He asked if I had any soap he could borrow, because the machine on the wall happened to be out, and the rest is history.”
I hated how easy it was for her. Sadie had all the guy finding luck. Maybe it would rub off on me tonight, and I would be able to find someone who could put Dawson out of my mind for good. A girl could hope anyway.