Chapter Two #2
Maisie’s quiet for a moment but has a look of determination on her face. “Hm…I’m gonna call her. Doesn’t hurt to ask.”
She pulls out her phone, and I already know it’s not going to go well.
“Good mornin’, my favorite sister-in-law,” Posey singsongs, sounding happier than I’ve heard her in ages.
“Hello to my favorite sister-in-law.” Maisie grins as if this greeting is the norm between them. “I have a big favor to ask.”
“Okay, shoot.”
My heart pounds, and my palms sweat with nerves. There’s no way she’s going to agree but a small part of me that hopes she does. Even if it’d be awkward, it’d be better than staying anywhere else.
The last thing I want to do is go to my parents with my tail between my legs and ask if their thirty-year-old son can move home.
It’s bad enough I have to tell them the engagement is off. I’d like to have some dignity left.
My older siblings are married with small children, so it’s not like they have room for me either.
“It’d mean a lot to both me and Warren, so please remember that,” Maisie tells her, and I brace myself.
“You’re pregnant? And you want me to be the godmother? I accept!”
Maisie snorts. “No, not quite. We have a friend who could use a place to stay while they look for an apartment, so would you mind a roommate?”
“Depends…” Posey’s drawls. “Who is it?”
Maisie’s gaze meets mine briefly before responding. “It’s Silas.”
“Are you fuckin’ kidding me? Not happenin’. Please tell me you’re jokin’.”
I close my eyes at the anger in each syllable as her voice goes up an octave.
“Did your asshole husband ask you to fuck with me?”
“Posey, I’m being serious. Aundrea broke up with him and he has nowhere to go.”
Ah yes, that doesn’t make me sound desperate and pathetic.
“That’s literally not my problem. He can sleep with the goats for all I care.”
“Posey,” Warren’s deep voice bellows. “He can hear you.”
“Motherfuckers! I hate y’all.”
“It’s fine,” I blurt, not wanting them to fight on my behalf. “I’ll figure somethin’ else out.”
“Time to get over your unrequited crush, Posey. You’re the most forgivin’ person I know. Why can’t you let this go?” Warren asks.
The line goes silent, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she hung up.
“Posey?” Maisie furrows her brows.
“It wasn’t unrequited,” she murmurs softly but loud enough for them to hear her.
Warren’s eyes snap to mine as if demanding answers, but I chicken out and avert my gaze.
Fuck.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Warren barks. “Please tell me it doesn’t mean what I think it means.”
“It was a long time ago,” Posey admits. “I have valid reasons for hatin’ him, but if you wanna know why, ask him.”
And then she hangs up.
Leaving me to deal with one red-faced Warren who’s glaring at me.
Silence fills the air as I focus on the food in front of me, knowing he won’t drop it, but wishing he would.
“Told ya she wouldn’t agree to it,” I mutter.
“You have a lot of explainin’ to do.”
I set my fork down and blow out a breath. “It’s not what you’re thinkin’.”
Unless it’s that I had a one-night stand with his sister, then it’s exactly what he’s thinking.
A memory that’s haunted me for years, even worse when I found out she thought I’d forgotten about it and learned it was her first time.
Maisie scoots closer to me with a wicked grin. “Tell me everythin’ and leave nothin’ out.”
Warren snorts and rolls his eyes. “But please limit any gross details…” He holds up his palm. “As her brother, I don’t wanna know everythin’.”
“Well, I do, so you can plug your ears,” Maisie says eagerly. “Start at the beginnin’.”
I tell them the truth—from the dare that led to our first kiss, to the night of our hookup, and then what happened almost two years after that.
I admit I fucked up and should’ve communicated with her a lot sooner.
And even when I thought I was doing the right thing by not making a move that night because I was dating someone else, I wish I hadn’t told her I wanted to see how things worked out with Gwen.
We only last two months, but at that point, Posey wouldn’t give me the time of day. She blocked my number and social media accounts. Then she started seeing some guy shortly after.
I ruined my chance and regretted it ever since.
“You need to apologize,” Maisie tells me. “Make amends. Not ’cause you need a place to stay, but ’cause it’s overdue and you owe her one. And you never know…” She smirks at Warren. “Sometimes apologies can lead to somethin’ more.”
Warren winks at her, and I gag at how sickly in love they are now, but I’m happy for them. They deserve it after what they went through and how long he waited for her.
“I don’t think an apology is gonna fix how she felt when I rejected her,” I admit. “Although I could blame Warren for most of my behavior.”
“Me? How the fuck am I included in this?”
I chuckle. “You were a drunken mess. There was no way you’d be okay with me datin’ your little sister.
You’d either kick my ass and threaten to kill me if I hurt her or you wouldn’t wanna see us together ’cause you were so miserable.
You would’ve been in the middle and already weren’t in a good place. ”
“Ooh, I vote for that. Put all the blame on Warren.” Maisie giggles.
“Oh no…” He folds his arms. “If I’m being name-dropped, then so are you.”
“I wasn’t even here!” she argues.
“Exactly,” Warren points out. “You broke my heart and it had a ripple effect. Now you deal with the consequences.”
Maisie rolls her eyes. “My heart was broken too, but I didn’t go and drink myself stupid.”
This time, Warren rolls his eyes. “I eventually slowed down.”
“Alright, lovebirds…” I hold up my hands so they stop arguing on my behalf. “I’ll apologize, but it probably won’t do any good.”
“Even so, at least then you can say you tried.” Maisie grins. “And the offer for you to stay here is still on the table no matter what.”
Her words cause me to glance down at the breakfast bar I’m currently eating at and wonder if they’ve done it here.
Knowing them, no surface in this house is safe, so I desperately need Posey to forgive me.