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But when Aunt Lori gave me her “I’m worried about you” look and rested her hand on my forearm, it all came spilling out anyway.
“I’m in love with Phoebe.”
She gave me a little smirk. “I know.”
I dropped my hoagie on the counter. “What?”
She huffed. “You’ve been in love with that girl since high school, but never made a move. Something change?”
I twisted the leather band on my wrist. “She did. She’s gained a little confidence and stopped groaning at me for complimenting her at least half of the time now. Then I showed her I was interested and finally she came to me. We’ve been together since Christmas, but I already fucked it up.”
She wiped some sauce from her lips. “What happened?”
I sighed. “Dom came and ran his mouth, she got all upset that I hadn’t told him about us, and then she says she wants to stay with other friends while she’s in town. She won’t return my calls.”
Aunt Lori lifted her chin a little and took a bite. She had something to say. And knowing her, she’d either make me figure it out myself or make me wait for it.
I grunted. “Okay, I didn’t tell Dom about us. But I kissed her right in front of my teammates so they knew.”
She hissed.
I threw my hand up. “What? That was the best way to say we were together and to keep the other guys away, knowing she was taken.”
She winced and hissed again.
I growled. “Come on, out with it.”
Aunt Lori grinned, then sat what was left of her sandwich on its wrapper. “Do you remember Baron?”
I sat back. “Sure, our dog right after Mom and Dad died. He wasn’t a cuddler.”
She snickered. “You wanted him to be. You wanted a cuddly dog who would snuggle up with you and watch movies. Over and over, you picked up that poor mutt and tried to make him into what you wanted. Did it ever work?”
I shook my head and took a bite. “I loved that dog, but he sure was stubborn.”
Aunt Lori gave me a pointed look.
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Phoebe is not like that dog!”
Aunt Lori shot me a look. “Of course, she’s not. She’s more independent, more traumatized, and more breakable. I know you, Ransom. You don’t just want to be with her; you want to own her heart. Tell her what to do. Grab and hold on with a death grip. But you can’t do that with Phoebe. She’s a free spirit wrapped in a sad girl who misses her mother and is dipped in the piss and vinegar of her Grandma Julia. She needs to be nurtured, loved, held in such deep regard that she never questions the bond you have.”
I took a sip of soda. “I thought I had done that.”
She shook her head. “You already let her down, big guy. You didn’t tell your brother or me that you two were together, which in her mind is the equivalent of being ashamed to tell your family about her. Let’s face it. You weren’t going to tell me until I bribed you with lunch.” I hung my head. I knew she was right. “So, why didn’t you call? Why weren’t you bursting with happiness that you finally got together with your high school crush?”
I lifted a shoulder. “Too busy being with her?”
She chuckled. “Ah, no. Try again.”
I kicked at a crumb on the floor. “Because she’s so touchy?”
Aunt Lori nudged me. “Yeah, but you already knew that. Ransom, why didn’t you call me?”
“It was too real!” I said it so loud people looked at us, so I lowered my voice. “It’s been like a dream living with her, being with her, enjoying what we have, and I didn’t want to wake up. I’ve been trying to convince her to move in with me, but she just keeps saying she loves New York. So, I wanted to nail things down with her before I told you what was happening, make sure it was really happening for us. Because if I told you and it all fell apart, I—I just don’t know how I’d survive it.”
Aunt Lori wiped her fingers on her napkin and stood to throw her arms around my neck pulling me into her stomach. “Oh, sweet boy, you just don’t get women. It’s the hesitation that kills us. ‘Will he or won’t he?’ is the worst game a guy can play with a girl. How can you not know that?”
I sniffled. “You never dated.”
