15. Fifteen
Fifteen
Jake
M y little sis has teeth , I think to myself as I take in her furious glower. I never even considered that my brother and sister might have a problem with who I choose to date, but it’s pretty apparent now that Anna doesn’t approve of Tessa.
Considering how I’d spun out of control after Tessa left, I guess I should’ve seen this coming.
I’m close to my siblings. Closer than most, seeing the shit we’ve been through.
We’re fiercely protective of each other, and I can appreciate that she’s trying to look out for me.
I get it. She doesn’t want to see me hurt again, but I’m a grown man—capable of making my own choices—and I don’t need a guard dog to nip at Tessa’s heels whenever she gets too close.
“Can I talk to you in private for a moment, please,” I ask, rising from my seat and waiting for my sister to follow. Anna crumples up her napkin and tosses it onto the table beside her plate, before she gets up and pushes past me with a huff.
“Sorry about that.” Tessa waves my apology off with an understanding smile.
When I join my sister in the kitchen, she immediately rounds on me, cheeks flushed and fire in her eyes.
“You’re kidding, right?” she spits with so much venom it genuinely takes me aback.
“Of all the girls you could’ve chosen. I might be your sister, but I’m not blind.
I see the way women look at you. You’re handsome, successful, and kind.
Any woman would be lucky to have you; there’s definitely no shortage of willing candidates.
But you wouldn’t give anyone a chance. Then, when you finally do, you dump her for that ?
” she fumes, throwing a thumb over her shoulder and in Tessa’s general direction.
“After everything that heartless bitch has put you through?”
“Whoa there, little firecracker,” I say, holding out a hand to calm her.
“First off, let’s dial back on the name-calling, yeah?
There’s a lot you don’t know, so let’s not blame her for everything that went down.
We both made mistakes, and I certainly wasn’t innocent in the way things ended.
” Anna folds her arms across her chest but seems a little more willing to listen .
“Secondly, I didn’t just dump Alicia the second she came back.
I tried to ignore my feelings and gave Tessa a hell of a time.
Then, we had a long-overdue conversation, and it turns out assumptions were made that weren’t true, and we want to rebuild trust. I’m not going to propose to her tomorrow, but I also owe it to us both to see if there is anything worth saving.
I’ve missed her, Anna,” I say, and watch as my sister’s eyes soften at my admission.
“We realized we never really got over each other, so we’re taking things slow to see where it goes, okay? ”
“So, all is forgiven and forgotten? After she cheated on you? After she abandoned you and acted like you never existed?”
I inhale deeply and make sure she’s paying attention before saying, “Look, squirt. I appreciate your concern, and I’m sorry if the way I dealt with the breakup caused you to worry.
I was young then, unable to handle my emotions in healthy ways, but I’m not that guy anymore.
I’m also not a complete idiot, so I need you to give me a little credit and trust that I know what’s best for me.
All I’m asking is that you keep an open mind and give her a chance,” I urge, and her lips flatten into a tight line, most likely realizing she overreacted but not yet ready to retract her claws.
“Deep down, you know she’s not vindictive,” I press on.
“Neither one of us meant to cause the other pain and yet we both ended up hurt. She means a lot to me, so I’d appreciate it if you could stop biting her head off whenever she opens her mouth.
She’s going through a lot right now with her mom being sick, and you, of all people, know what that’s like.
The last thing she needs is your misplaced animosity, alright?
” That seems to do the trick, for Anna visibly deflates.
My sister is stubborn and opinionated, and I’ve tried my best to instill a strong sense of morality in both of my siblings.
I’m proud of her for not being afraid to stick up for herself, as well as others.
But growing up with these values also made her very empathetic, and she’s always had the biggest heart.
“Fine,” she reluctantly gives in. “I’ll play nice, but the second she steps out of line, all bets are off. I may be tiny, but I know how to throw down.”
“Alright, Ronda Rousey,” I chuckle, slinging an arm around her to steer her toward the backyard. “Let’s keep those fists at our sides for now, shall we. By the way,” I say. “Some guy called earlier, asking for you.”
“Who?”
“Not sure,” I admit. “Told him if he wasn’t gay or calling to extend an invite to bible school, you weren’t available. I hung up when he started to stutter. ”
“Oh my God, Jake,” she groans, like having me as a big brother is the worst form of punishment. “You’re so embarrassing. What if it was someone I like?”
“Then he’ll call again. Don’t make it too easy for these little shitheads. You gotta make them work for it, or they’ll be onto the next chick without giving you a second thought.”
“Is that how you were when you were my age?” she asks, flashing me a cheeky grin.
“You don’t want to know how I was, Anna Banana,” I tell her, peering down at her upturned face. “Let’s just say you’re not the only one with a protective streak in this family.”
Anna rolls her eyes and shrugs my arm off her shoulders before she strides back to the table to finish her dinner with a little less attitude.