Chapter 53
EDEN
I runup the stairs to my apartment, giddy to tell Kayla when she comes home about the incredible news about Ava becoming my business partner.
As I round the final sets of stairs, I halt in my tracks. There’s Cruz standing outside the front door.
“Hey.” His sad gaze lands on me. “I tried knocking, but there was no answer.”
I cross my arms. “Yeah, well, that usually happens when no one’s home.”
My tone has a bite to it, but I don’t care. The last time we saw each other was weeks ago at our parents’ anniversary party when he walked in on Danny and me making out and went all caveman, threatening to kick Danny’s ass.
When I stood up for myself and told him to butt out of my dating life, all he offered was an angry comment about how I was just a rebound to Danny.
Maybe Cruz was right.
I shove away the thought. That’s not the point. The point was that I told Cruz to respect me as an adult who can make my own decisions about dating, and he refused. And since our argument, he hasn’t once reached out. Not to explain himself or apologize. I don’t owe him anything.
I move to unlock the door. “You’re not coming in,” I say.
“Eden—”
“I don’t want to hear what you have to say.” I move to shut the door.
“Eden, I’m sorry.”
Cruz’s pleading tone keeps me from shutting it.
“I messed up big-time,” he says. “I’m sorry for the way that I acted when I found out about you and Danny. What I did and what I said was out of line.”
I take in his pained expression through the sliver of open door.
“You were right. I was being a ridiculously overprotective big brother, and I had no right to be. You’re your own person, and I need to accept that. I’m sorry that it’s taken me so long to see you that way. I know that’s messed up, but you’re my little sister, Eden. It’s hard to not want to look out for you and protect you.”
I open the door all the way and motion for him to come in. We plop down on the couch.
“Cruz, it’s not that I want you to stop looking out for me. Or protecting me. You’re the best big brother in the world. I love you to death. I just don’t need you policing my love life. That’s really all this comes down to.”
The sad look on his face fades. He looks almost relieved at what I’ve said. “I know. It’s just, uh, kinda weird, you know? You and Danny.”
I hesitate for a second, but Cruz stops me.
“No wait, let me get this out. Yeah, the thought of you and Danny together is weird, but that’s on me. That’s my own hang-up. I’ll get over it. Because you’re right. You can date whoever you want to date. All that really matters is that you’re happy. And if Danny makes you happy, then I’m happy.”
A sudden burst of emotion hits. It’s the sincerity in my brother’s eyes and tone. And it’s also the yearning for Danny, the fact that I miss him so much.
Cruz frowns at me. “Crap, are you okay? Did I say something wrong?”
I wipe at my eyes. “No, what you said was perfect. It’s just… Danny and I aren’t together anymore.”
He’s frown deepens. “What happened?”
I sigh and explain the recent mess with Dream Guy, how it led to my getting kicked out of school.
“Are you serious?” Cruz sputters.
I nod. “I’m not surprised honestly. Students have gotten kicked out of college for less salacious things. And it’s another thing for Mom and Dad to be ashamed of me about, in addition to my job.”
Cruz aims a pitying stare at me. “Eden, don’t say that. They love you.”
I hold up a hand. “I don’t want to talk about them anymore.” They also haven’t reached out since our falling-out at their anniversary party, and I don’t have the energy to talk about them.
Cruz hesitates for a second, but clamps his mouth shut and nods once. I pick up where I left off, explaining how all the negative news about Dream Guy also led to Danny getting fired, and how that contributed to him ending things between us. By the time I finish, Cruz looks bewildered.
“Shit. I’m sorry, Eden.”
I shake my head, my bottom lip wobbly. “I guess we just weren’t meant to be.”
Cruz hands me the tissue box from the coffee table and I dab at my face.
“God, this is so embarrassing. I’ve never cried this much over a guy. I guess that’s what happens when you really l—” I cut myself off when I realize what I’m about to say. I already look like a blubbering mess in front of my brother. No need to talk about how much I still love the guy who dumped me.
“You sure you don’t want to reach out to him or?—”
“No way. Yeah, I miss him, but he really hurt me. I’m not going to just take him back.”
He pulls me into a hug. “It’ll be okay. You’ll get through it.”
“I know. Thanks, Cruz.”
When we break apart, I notice his expression has gone thoughtful as he looks at me.
“What?” I ask.
He blinks and that look is gone. “I was just going to offer to kick Danny’s ass for breaking your heart, but I figured that would be the wrong thing to say.”
I chuckle, then sniffle, then shove his shoulder. “You’d better not, Cruz.”
“I’m kidding. How about we order takeout, on me, and you can fill me in on what’s new with Dream Guy? Or we can binge a show. Or you can tell me off again. Whatever you want.”
He elbows me, and I chuckle, relieved to be able to talk about something happy now. “That sounds nice.”
I tell him about the social media campaign organized by the Dream Guys and app users, how Ava came out publicly in support of the app, and how we’re going to go into business together.
Cruz beams. “That’s awesome.”
The food arrives, and he hops up to answer the door. I turn on the TV to search for something for us to watch while we eat and notice the email alert on my phone. When I see it’s from Portland State College, I groan.
“What happened?” Cruz asks when he comes back with the food.
“Nothing. Just another email from the university. What else can they chew me out for? They’ve already kicked me out.”
I open the message while I dig into my pad thai. When I start to read it, I nearly choke on a bite.
“What’s wrong?” Cruz asks.
But I can’t answer him. I’m too stunned. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”