No. I couldn’t. Not after the way I'd behaved. But Iwouldblame myself if I didn't do what I'd come here for, so I stiffened my spine and announced, "I have a special delivery."
She gave me a look. "Well, that's a new one."
I gave her a look right back. "What doesthatmean?"
"It means," she said through gritted teeth, "that whatever you're selling, we're not buying."
"But I'm not 'selling' anything."
"Nice try," she said and made a move to shut the door.
"Wait!" I moved closer and lowered my voice. "I'm not here to seduce him if that's what you think."
Her eyebrows lifted as if to say,"Yeah, right."
"Okay, fine," I said. "Maybe Ididhave some other intentions, but that's not theonlyreason I came. I need to tell him that I'm sorry for something stupid."
Her gaze only hardened. "Hey, you said it, not me."
Ignoring her attitude, I plowed onward, anyway. "And I've gotta do something for him, something that can't wait."
"I bet," she scoffed as she gave my bare legs another scornful look.
Heat flooded my face. "Notthat."
"Glad to hear it," she mocked. "Because he's way too good for you."
Her words stung – mostly because they were true. After everything I'd done, I didn't truly deserve him.
But I did love him. I should've realized it sooner. I should've given him the benefit of the doubt. I should've done a lot of things.
But I hadn't. And my loss was her gain. Still, I refused to slink away like a Grinch caught swiping the presents. "Yeah, I know. That's part of the reason I'm here."
She crossed her arms. "Oh, is it?"
"Yes." I felt the first threat of tears as I forced myself to keep going. "And if he's happy with you, I’m happy forhim, honest."
Her chin lifted in triumph. "You don't look happy."
"Yeah, but—"
"Andyou're lying your pants off."
I forced my own chin upward. "Hah! I'm not wearing pants."
"Yeah. I noticed." She leaned forward and practically hissed, "And I knowexactlywhat you want, Lexie. You want to lure him back to you, so you can break his heart all over again."
Wait, what?
I felt myself swallow.I'd broken his heart?
I felt a surge of remorse followed by relief and then remorse again. Through the emotional whiplash, I managed to choke out, "So…you know who I am?"
Her face froze as if she'd just realized her mistake. "I've gotta go." She made another move to shut the door.
I leapt forward. "Not so fast, sister!" And I meant that literally.
The door whacked me in the shoes and bounced back open. From somewhere inside the house, I heard the sound of a grandfather clock beginning to chime.
