Chapter 10
Lydia called her brother before she was even halfway back home. “Just so you know, I slept with Remy. And he rejected me.”
“Hold on,” said Matthew. “What?”
“I . . . I slept with him. A while ago. And then just today I told him that I loved him, but you know he can’t handle that.”
Her brother made a noise that she had never heard him make before. It was almost a scream, halfway a growl, and also something sort of defeated and resigned. “That is just . . . I’m annoyed at both of you, to be honest.”
“Why?”
“Because. He’s a disaster, even though he’s the greatest guy I know, and if he was going to get into a relationship with you, he really should have . . . because obviously you . . .”
“I obviously what?”
“I know you used to have a crush on him. I just didn’t know that it persisted.”
“Oh yeah. It persisted big-time.”
“Well, I just wish you’d talked to me first.”
“Why? So you could talk me out of it?”
“No. I would never . . . I would never try to tell you what to do. You’re a grown woman. But I would’ve tried to . . . give you tips and tricks on how to handle him? Because he’s the whole thing. And he’s emotionally—”
“I know. I know he is. And actually, I think I handled it pretty well. It just hurts. And sucks. But I knew he wasn’t going to be able to accept it.
I told him I didn’t care. I told him that I wanted him to sit with it and think about it.
I didn’t let him give me a whole spiel on how he can’t love and whatever else. ”
“Well. You did pretty well.”
“Thank you.”
“He’s an idiot.”
“A hurt idiot,” she said.
“You would be perfect for him. You have the patience for his idiocy. Only people in our family do.”
She laughed. “I guess so. Don’t say anything to him yet. I need him to sort his shit out on his own.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go over and punch him in the face for debauching you?”
“No. I asked him to.”
“God damn, you’re so annoying, Lydia.”
“Yeah. I know.”
There was silence for a moment.
“You’re also very brave,” he said. “Because it takes courage to go after what you want, even when you know it might hurt.”
She nodded. “Yeah. I guess it does. So I’m a brave loser. At least there’s that.”
“No, Lydia. The losers are the ones who never try. Now he’s going to have to prove that’s not what he is.”
Lydia marinated in that for the whole rest of the day.