Chapter 10
4 Months After The Choosing
Dominique
Reid and I haven’t spoken about the world-shattering kiss since it happened.
I’ve been trying to talk to Imani about it first, but she’s been on a mission. Since Reid turned her down, she’s really trying to get to know everyone else in the house. She’s been eating breakfast with one group, chilling with another, going swimming with the next. She has filled her social calendar. And I’m allowed to join in, but no more twin time to speak of.
I finally corner her while we are getting ready, shoving the door closed in her face as she is about to leave our room.
“Can we chat? Please? I feel like you’re avoiding me.”
“I’m not avoiding you Dominique. I’ve just had the very real realization that I will have my entire life to spend time with you, and I only have a handful more months to be here. To find a partner.” She puts her hands on her hips, and I can tell she’s trying not to look exasperated. “I love you. I will always love you. But I also want to be sure that I love whoever I end up with at the end of this year. I don't want to be assigned someone and miss out on a love match because I was closeted in here with you the majority of the time, pouting. I hope you understand?”
Stunned, I stare at her with my mouth gaping like a fish. Who is this, and what did she do with my naive, sweet sister?!
Finally, I pull myself together in time to say, “I understand Imani, I do, truly. I’m just in a bit of shock because I thought you were mad at me because of the whole Reid kissing me thing—”
“Ugh, I’m so over all that. You were right.” She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, obviously pained to admit it. “But it’s for the best. Now I can go find my person and he can find his.”
I pause. Waiting for her to go on. When she doesn’t, I add surreptitiously, “How would you feel if that person was maybe… me?”
She looks me dead in the eyes, trying to determine if I’m joking or not. When I don’t crack, she bursts out laughing. “Oh boy! Well, that’s a twist. I can’t say I saw that coming, but honestly? You two might actually be fantastic together. Something about it feels right.”
I give her a shy smile. “Well, don’t plan the wedding or anything. I’m just hoping to explore it. See if there is actually anything there before I make any big decisions. You know, explore my options.”
“Uh huh… Well, have fun!” She flounces past me with a wink and a little squeeze of my shoulder. Reassuring me she really is okay with me finding out if there is something between Reid and me after all.
I decide, right then and there, that if I’m going to do this, I need to be about as subtle as a brick through a window. I am not beating around the bush and hoping for the best here just to end up like my sister, unsure and vulnerable. I need to do something very forward to finally suss this out.