Chapter 18 #2
Eventually, Ewan recovers enough to explain, “You two idiots—” He breaks into another fit of laughter. “Only you two could fail this hard at being so into each other.”
He pauses to wipe away tears. “You spent years hating each other, but somehow you now magically want to hook up. Except instead of dating like normal people, you avoid each other and get mad at your friends about it.” He cocks his head and looks into the middle distance.
“Honestly, saying it that way does sound exactly like Fiona’s type of ridiculousness. ”
Ewan drains the last of his coffee and sets the mug on the counter.
“Wow. Thanks. Real helpful.”
“Seriously. Based on how you were tiptoeing around it that day when you asked me why she was so angry, you’ve been into Fi for a while. No wonder you tried to ‘make peace.’ Wait, that means you fell for her when she was still pissed at you. How did that happen?”
“We’re not here to gossip about me. We’re here because your stupid plan backfired so badly I have no idea what’s going on,” I say to redirect the conversation into safer waters.
I need to empty and clean the coffeepot anyway, so I carry it to the counter and refill Ewan’s mug.
“I meant it when I told you I didn’t expect her to say what she said about Kyle and me. ”
“Nah. No more bullshit, Tre. Don’t treat me like an idiot.
” Ewan’s voice is still mild, but there’s an edge to it that says he’s just this side of pissed.
“As far as I knew, you two never even spoke. Yet you suddenly developed a crush on her and—out of the blue—tried to be friends, which, of course she rejected. But she stopped trash-talking you with no explanation. Only I couldn’t leave well enough alone and forced you to be around each other, thinking it would help, and now she’s pissed at both of us. ”
Ewan takes a sip of coffee. I’m scrambling for some kind of response, but he continues before I can come up with anything.
“You followed her into the woods, where you must’ve done or said something.
And after that, she tried to hook up with the only random guy around, which made you super jealous even though you claim you’ve only talked to her twice.
Then Cade tried his half-baked attempt at ‘helping,’ which forced her into admitting that she wants you.
And for the record, she would’ve rather eaten glass than told everyone that.
So what’s going on between you and my sister? ”
Fuck, I think, desperately trying to come up with a believable story.
I knew this conversation was going to go badly.
“Last month she started getting coffee here before work. Apparently, she had been getting it from the gas station the whole time she’s been back, which is insane, but whatever.
Between seeing her every day and you pushing me to talk to her, I figured I’d give it a shot.
I’ve got enough to do with fighting Henley and Montank, right?
I don’t need to be fighting with her too.
“So I managed to meet with her in private a couple of times and realized I didn’t have any good reason to hate her.
I actually started to feel something for her and found myself thinking about her even when she wasn’t around.
You know how it goes. Plus—this feels weird to say to you, sorry—just look at her.
Damn. She’s gorgeous. Of course, she had a reason to hate me, so nothing really changed until last weekend.
Now I’m all mixed up and have no idea what she thinks. ”
Ewan ignores my comments about how hot his sister is and asks, “Well, what happened when you left the campfire to find her?”
“I met her at her tent. She said she didn’t want to talk, but I apologized for what I’d said back in high school.
We talked for a bit after that, and I kissed her.
” Ewan’s eyes widen, but he doesn’t interrupt.
“She seemed into it for a minute, then she broke it off and told me nothing was going to happen with us, and I came back. You know what happened from there.
“That’s why I’m all twisted around, man.
She and I are one way, then we’re the opposite, but then we’re something else.
It’s not even hot and cold. She goes in every direction with no warning, and I don’t know what’s real or what to expect.
If she liked me so much, why push me away?
If she wanted me instead of Kyle, why wouldn’t she tell me that?
And then, despite what she said, I haven’t seen her since.
Not even for coffee in the mornings,” I finish venting and simply stand there, staring at Ewan, hoping for any shred of clarity.
“Yeah, I was surprised by everything that morning, including you, although it makes sense now. When Fi’s talking to me again, I’ll ask about you. See if I can find anything out.”
“Oh, god. Things are already bad enough, don’t turn this into teenage drama. And what do you mean when she’s talking to you? She didn’t talk the rest of Sunday?”
“Apart from yelling at me, no we didn’t really chat. Oddly enough, she wasn’t too happy, and she didn’t particularly want to discuss what happened. It’s fine. She’ll get over it in a day or two. At least with me.”
“Wonderful,” I groan. “This didn’t help at all, plus now I’m embarrassed all over again.”
Ewan shrugs. “We’re good now, right?”
I nod. “Yeah. I guess there’s that.”
“You doing anything the rest of the night?”
“I’ll finish closing up here, then I’m down for whatever.”
“Hang out at your apartment, grab a couple of beers, and stream the new Marvel movie?”
“Sounds good to me,” I reply, moving to the next task on the closing list.