“Because I love her, and I think she’s the one.” The answer comes without thought. Both Mira and I stare at each other insurprise.
“Well, then. That changes things, yeah?” She states theobvious.
“Yeah. Yeah, it does.” Now I just have to decide what to do about it. I glance into the contents of my glass before tilting it back for aswallow.
Mira shoves into me with her shoulder. “Look at you, being all grown up with your grown-up problems. I remember when you used to pick your nose and eatit.”
“Maybe I still do.” I stick my tongue out at her and shelaughs.
“You’re so gross.” She picks at the edge of her napkin before meeting my stare again. “Hey, I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. You’re a good guy. The best I know next to Dad. You deserve to find someone who makes youhappy.”
I nod, and tap my fingers on the bar top as I take in her words. My parents built this great life together, the perfect marriage, and they made it all look so damn easy. I want that. A wife and children, but I don’t want it with a nameless face. I want it with Jess. “What do I do when the person who makes me the happiest also hurts me themost?”
Mira’s lips turn down with her frown. “I’m not sure. I wish Iknew.”
“Yeah, me, too.” I tap my empty glass and force a smile onto my face. “Thanks for bringing me out. You were right. I neededthis.”
She rolls her eyes. “Well, of course I’m right. I am awesome. Even Connor thinks so.” She winks at the bartender and I can’t tell if she’s flirting because she likes him or just to gross me out. Either way, it seems to beworking.
Connor swaggers over to our end of the bar and takes our empties. “Another?”
Mira twists in her seat. “What do you say, littlebrother?”
“Yeah, let’s do one more.” It’s nice spending one-on-one time with my sister. I can’t recall even a handful of times we’ve done this as adults. “Then we better head back. Mom started cooking the second I walked in thedoor.”
“Crap, that means she’s probably making one of your favorites and not mine.” Mira pretends to be annoyed but the hint of a smile plays at her lips. “They’re pretty great, huh. We sure lucked out in the parentdepartment.”
Connor sets down our freshly filledglasses.
I pick up mine and raise it in a toast. “Yeah, we really did. Not so bad in the sister department,either.”
She tips her glass against mine. “NowthatI’ll drinkto.”
