“Pretty sure I’ve made it quite clear that I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Yeah, well, too bad,” I huff as I shove past her, into the house.
“Sure, come on in,” Violet mutters under her breath before closing the door.
Walking into the living room, I hate how awkward it feels to be here. Do I sit? Stand? Apologize? Of course, I want to apologize because Iamsorry forhowshe found out…but I’m not sorry for how I feel about Finn.God, this fucking sucks.For years, I’ve been on the other end of this situation. Maybe it’s from years of experience and time to perfect pushing all myfeelings down, but I can’t help but notice how much easier it was to be on the other side. Having her stand in front of me, with clear disdain plastered on her face, I don’t know what to do or say.
Violet blows out a breath, crossing her arms across herself again. “Well, are you just going to stand there?”
“I don’t know what to say to you,” I admit, my arms feeling clunky and awkward hanging at my sides.
“You’re the one who came here, Ash. But unless you’re here to tell me you ended things with Finn, I’m not sure there’s anything to talk about.”
My stomach twists. “Can you hear me out about this before you start saying stuff like that? Please?”
Plopping down on the couch, she crosses her leg over the other, staring over at me with a bored expression, like she’d rather be doing anything other than talking to me. “I’m listening.”
I decide that sitting down might feel less uncomfortable than standing, especially now that she is, so I cross the living room and drop onto the chair beside the couch.
Nope. Not any less awkward.Whatever. This entire interaction is probably going to have my nerves on edge; I need to get over it. This is Violet…my twin sister, the person I literally shared a womb with. I can do this. I can both apologize and be firm with what I want.
I take a couple of deep breaths, my heart clear in my throat.
I can do this.
“First, I’d like to say I’m sorry,” I start with, voice cracking from how nervous I am. “You never should’ve found out the way that you did. You should’ve heard it from me.”
“Ash, you weremaking outwith my boyfriend,” she mutters. “There never should’ve been anything I needed to find out in the first place!”
“Okay, well, he’s not your boyfriend, and he wasn’t when things started.” I clasp my hands together in my lap to keep them from trembling.
Violet’s eyebrows furrow as her eyes narrow on me. “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.That’swhat you have to say?”
“That’s not only what I want to say, but yeah, Vi. Finn is not your boyfriend, and it’s weird that you keep referring to him as such. You and I both know he broke up with you; I sat right here when you told me.”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, I wish I’d never said them.
Laughing dryly, Violet shakes her head. “Yeah, you were, Ash. I called you over here to tell you about my breakup because I wasupset”—she spews the last part out like it’s venom—“and you probably couldn’t wait to get home and sweep up my leftovers, could you?”
Her words cut, and I can’t help the way I wince as she delivers them.
“Violet, that’s not fair.”
Scoffing, she says, “You wanna know what’s not fair? Finding out my own brother took what was mine!”
“What was yours?” I parrot, my pulse racing. “Finn isn’t property, Violet! He’s a person, with feelings, and you had no fucking right to out him in front of everybody the way you did, if we really want to talk about what’s fair.”
My blood boils as I watch her roll her eyes. “God, grow up, Ash. I didn’touthim.”
“Yes, you fucking did!” I jump to my feet, every ounce of hurt, anger, and frustration I’ve felt all week flooding to the surface. “That wasn’t your secret to tell. I know you may not understand because I’ve been out for a long time, but you can’t do that to people, Violet. Finn should’ve been able to tell his family, andother people, when he was ready. You took that right from him, and it’s not okay.”
Violet stands, matching my stance. “Okay, back up.” Holding up her hand, she says, “I thought you came here to apologize, and now you’re yelling atme?”
“Because what you did wasn’t okay! At all!” I don’t bother to keep my voice down. “Don’t you understand that? What if his family wasn’t okay with it? Or what if there was some violent homophobic prick standing around? I know this might be hard to understand in your little self-absorbed mind, Violet, but not everything has to do with you. You being upset about finding out about Finn and I is completely valid, but outing somebody is not, and you act like it’s no big deal. Open your fucking eyes, would you?”
“How was I supposed to know he hadn’t told his family?” She throws her arms up in the air, and irritation lances through me.
“Exactly!” I bite out. “You didn’t know, so you should’ve kept your fucking mouth shut!”
