Page 168 of Promising You
“We don’t need to. It’s over. We’re good.” I face forward again. “Sorry I yelled at you. It’s the lack of sleep. I’m not in the best mood right now.”
“Jade, what’s going on with you? You used to talk to me all the time about stuff and now you never tell me anything.”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“A few hours ago you told me three major news events in your life that you’ve been keeping a secret from me. Why are you keeping secrets? We’ve never been like that with each other. Even if you don’t tell my dad stuff, you at least tell me.”
“That was back in high school when I lived with you. Things have changed. Now I’m on my own and you’re busy with work and Chloe. We don’t talk that much anymore.”
“Yeah, and it shouldn’t be that way. I want us to talk, Jade. I want things to be like they were before. Us telling each other stuff. Yeah, I’m busy, but I’m never too busy to talk to you. I haven’t called you as much lately because when I do you don’t return my calls, so I thought you needed some space.”
“It’s not that. It’s just that we’re both moving on with our lives. We’re not going to be as close as we were before.”
“Why not?”
“Because you have Chloe now.”
“I still want to talk to you. Chloe has nothing to do with it. And she’s not the type of person who would tell me I can’t talk to you or spend time with you.”
“Are you going to marry her?”
He laughs. “So I guess you decided we’re confiding in each other again?”
I shrug. “You’re the one who suggested it.”
“Okay, then yes. I’m planning to marry her, but not anytime soon. We’ve talked about it and she wants to wait until she’s done with med school.”
“That’s a long time.”
“She’s almost done with the first year, so three more years.”
“When are you going to propose?”
“Probably next fall sometime. Or maybe at Christmas.”
“That’s big news, Ryan. See? You’ve been hiding stuff, too.”
“It’s not exactly a surprise. You know I’ve never dated a girl for this long.”
“Yeah, I figured you’d marry her. I just didn’t know when.”
“So how about you and Garret? Does the marriage topic ever come up?”
He looks at me and I look back at him like he’s crazy. “Marriage? A few hours ago you said I was immature and had no future with the guy.”
He sighs. “I didn’t mean that. I only said it because it’s whatIwant.”
“I don’t get it.”
“You’re my little sister and I don’t want you to grow up. I still picture you coming over to my house when you were 12 with your hair up in a ponytail, wearing one of your mom’s dresses that was way too big on you, trying to look older so I’d notice you.”
“Yeah, well, I was a stupid kid. I didn’t know what I was doing. My mom didn’t talk to me about boys.”
“It was cute. You were trying so hard. And as a 15-year-old boy, I had no idea what to do with this annoying girl who kept following me around. But then I kind of liked having you around. I liked pretending to be your big brother and now I’m not ready to lose my little sister.”
I look down as he reaches over for my hand. “I know you’re growing up and moving on, but I don’t want us to grow apart. I’m sorry for what I said. You’re not immature, Jade. In fact you’re more mature than most people twice your age. And I really hope it works out with you and Garret.” He laughs as he takes his hand away and picks up his bottle of water. “But if you two get married, his family’s not going to make you live with them in their mansion, are they?”
“No. I’m never living in that place. You should see it. It’s all white like an insane asylum.”
