Chapter 24 #2
I give them my car keys so they can wait in there while we talk. As they move past me, both my friends mouth good luck.
I’ll take all the well-wishes I can get.
I’m not exactly scared to talk to Mal. She’s been one of my best friends since we were eleven.
But I value her opinion, and if she tells me she doesn’t want me dating her brother, I don’t think I could be with Connor, even if it would break my heart. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
Mallory and I walk off to the side of the park, away from the people walking from the field to their cars.
“Okay, what gives?” She starts numbering things on her fingers like evidence.
“You bid a thousand dollars to win that date with my brother at the bachelor auction. You’re wearing his sweatshirt that you’ve apparently kept since high school.
You just cheered for him even louder than my mother.
And Connor smiled at you after his grand slam.
Smiled.” She throws her arms up, making the lawn chair hanging from her arm smack against her hip.
I take a deep breath to steady my racing heart, then tell her the truth. “I’m in love with Connor.”
Her mouth falls open in complete shock. I’m just happy that she doesn’t seem mad. “Shut up. Since when?”
“Pretty much since I met him.” I fiddle with the strap of the lawn chair bag.
“I mean, it was obviously more like puppy love back then—an innocent crush. But spending time with him getting everything ready for my business has let me get to know him for who he is now, and all it’s done has made me fall for him more.
Please don’t be mad.” I stare at her, bracing for whatever impact my words are going to have.
Her brows furrow. “Why would I be mad?”
“When we all became friends, we promised each other that we wouldn’t let anything come between our friend group. No exes, no siblings.”
Mallory waves off the comment. “That’s just something we said when we were kids and still thought boys had cooties.
Plus, Connor was a grumpy, reclusive teenager who wasn’t interested in anything beyond baseball.
” She wrinkles her nose. “And his room always smelled like the cheddar-and-sour-cream chips he hid under his bed to snack on late at night.”
I decide to take a page from her book and be bold. “It sounds like you might be holding him in time a bit.”
Mallory stares off at the field, then sighs.
“You might be right. I guess he’s not that stinky teenage boy anymore.
I think it’s hard for me to see how much he’s grown because that means we’re all getting older.
” She drops her lawn chair and wraps her arms around her middle.
“And if I’m getting older, then I have to think about the future.
And what if I marry Griffin and I have to move to LA away from my family and friends?
” She kicks her pink sneakers on the dirt, sending a small cloud around our feet.
“Sorry, this isn’t supposed to be about me. ”
I reach out and grab her hand. “That’s exactly what friends are for.
” She squeezes my hand and shoots me a small smile before wrapping her arms around her middle again.
“If you end up marrying Griffin and have to spend a lot of time in LA, we’ll plan annual vacations.
We’ll text you so much, your phone will never stop going off.
” My eyes well up. “We won’t forget about you. Ever.”
Mallory’s lips tremble. “Promise?”
I nod and wipe my cheeks. “I swear on all the flowers in the world. Besides, we’re all getting older.
It’s sad to think about, but it’s also beautiful that we all are entering this new season of life that we get to walk together.
We knew that we wouldn’t be roommates forever.
” I blow out a breath as emotion tightens my throat.
“It’s heartbreaking to think about not coming down the stairs and seeing all my besties every morning.
But just imagine all of us married and at a summer house with our husbands and a bunch of kids running around.
” I smile at the mental image. “That’s a future we get to look forward to. ”
“And you want Connor to be part of that?”
“If you’re okay with the idea of me dating your brother. And, obviously, if this is what he wants, too.”
Mallory purses her lips. “It would be an adjustment for me to see you with my brother and not freak out seeing you hold hands or kiss or whatever.” Her expression softens.
“But what kind of sister and best friend would I be to come between the connection you two have?” She tilts her head and smiles.
“Plus, if it all works out, you’d officially be my sister. ”
Happy tears flood my vision. “I never thought about it like that.” I open my arms and envelop her in a hug.
It would’ve made things a lot easier if I knew Mallory wasn’t holding me to that middle school promise.
I wouldn’t have had to suppress my feelings all these years, but I’m honestly not sure it would’ve changed much else.
The more I think about it, this time apart from Connor allowed us to step into adulthood and learn about ourselves.
It made us who we are and allowed us to come back together at the perfect time.
When Mallory pulls back, her lips are pulled to the side like she wants to say something.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
She drops her gaze. “If you’re serious about trying to see things through with my brother, I need to tell you something.”
I’m instantly nauseous.
“A while back, when Connor was living in Seattle, he dated someone. All I know is that the relationship ended badly and he didn’t have plans to date anyone again after that.
I know you’ve always dreamed of getting married, and I couldn’t live with myself if I had information that could save you from heartbreak and didn’t warn you. ”
“I already know about Jillian,” I say, relief flooding me.
“You do?”
“Yeah, he shared everything about their relationship with me after the charity auction. I know he has some fears around relationships, but I think we’re getting there.”
“Oh, good.” She smiles. “That makes me feel so much better. I only want what’s best for you. And if you think that’s my brother, not that you really need it, but you have my blessing. Just be careful, okay?”
I nod and she pulls me in for another hug.
I step back as she reaches down to grab her lawn chair. “I should get to Daisy Mae. I drove Alyssa and Kelsey here, so they’re waiting for me.”
“Do they know about Connor yet?”
I shake my head as we start walking back to the parking lot. “I wanted to talk to you first for obvious reasons.”
“I’m glad we finally got to talk.”
“Me, too.” I smile.
“I’ll see you at the barbecue,” she calls out as she walks toward her car.
I have a feeling this is going to be the best one yet.