Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 96600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“I don’t think you’re a child,” he protested. “I think you can be reckless. Not just with yourself, but with other people’s feelings. What happens in a month when you get cold feet about the relationship?”
“Oh, we’re on a week-by-week basis,” I interjected, twisting the lid of the grinder a final time and dumping the contents onto the tray.
“Like a month-to-month lease,” Charlotte explained. “Matt knows about my inability to commit.”
His eyes widened and flicked from me to Charlotte and back. “You’re not serious?”
I can’t tell wasn’t an answer he’d accept.
To my shock, Charlotte answered for us. “No. But it’s something I’m telling myself to keep from panicking about having a serious relationship.”
“So, this is serious?” Scott asked.
Charlotte and I exchanged a glance. In accidental unison, we said, “Yes.”
“How, though? When you two were going to the resort, things were casual. You’ve only been back a few days,” Scott reminded us.
“Yeah, but remember, Matt and I have been in contact since your—” Charlotte stopped herself and quickly corrected, “for months. It was kind of like dating. Now, we’re committed.”
“I guess that’s fair,” Scott grudgingly conceded.
I sprinkled the crumbled weed onto the paper and pinched the edges to roll it. “What’s your fear here, Scott? Are you worried that I’m going to break her heart?”
“I have numerous fears,” Scott said, then, with a puff of frustration, gestured to the tray. “Give that to me. I can already tell your shitty rolling job is going to give us a runner.”
“You know, I’m the one who works in a dispensary,” Charlotte put in.
“Do you? Because you haven’t been home in weeks.” Scott took a fresh paper and started over.
“My boss is being cool about it,’ Charlotte said.
“And what, she’s going to let you work remotely from New York?” he countered. When Charlotte didn’t answer, he went on. “See, this is what I’m worried about. You’re both impulsive. You’re big leap-before-you-lookers.”
“But how does that concern you?” Though the question was perhaps a bit more pointed than I would have chosen to phrase it, Charlotte at least used a gentle tone.
“It concerns me because I feel this is eventually going to fall apart, and I’m going to be caught in the middle of it.” Scott didn’t look up as he spoke. He kept his eyes on the paper he was deftly rolling.
“Thanks for the vote of encouragement,” Charlotte said glumly.
I bristled, as well. “So we’re clear, which one of us are you expecting will fuck this up, and how? Because you know my history. I don’t end relationships for no reason.”
“He’s talking about me and how flighty I am,” Charlotte said before Scott could answer. “He’s worried I’m going to hurt you.”
“False. I’m worried you’re both going to get hurt and neither of you are going to want to talk to me ever again.” He held out the joint. “There. That’s how you do it.”
“You haven’t smoked in years, though,” Charlotte said under her breath.
I intervened before the sibling bickering could gain steam. “If Charlotte and I break up, I’m not going to treat her badly. And I’m not going to treat you any differently. Frankly, I’m tired of having to tell you that. Either you trust me, or you don’t. And if you don’t, what’s the point of being friends with someone you don’t trust?”
He didn’t say anything.
“And do you really think I’m never going to talk to you again?” Charlotte threw up her hands. “Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?”
“Family members go no-contact all the time,” he protested.
“Yeah, but do you really think I’m going to do that over a breakup?” Charlotte demanded. “Like Matt said, where’s the trust?”
“It’s different with you,” Scott argued. “I’ve always wanted to be your big brother, but let’s face it, you haven’t always been psyched to be my little sister.”
Ouch. I hadn’t thought of that component of things. I’d thought Scott was being petty and unreasonable, but maybe he did have serious fears.
Charlotte’s stricken face told me she hadn’t thought of it that way either. “Scott… I don’t not want to be your sister.”
“I know it’s nothing personal,” he began. “I know you don’t blame me for what our parents decided back when I was sick. But come on. It hasn’t been easy for you. And if this thing with Matt doesn’t work out, that’s another heartache that I was peripherally involved in.”
He turned in his seat slightly to face me. “And you can’t walk right because of my stupid ex-fiancée.”
“Technically, it was the bear,” I tried to joke.
“How can you even stand for me to be here right now?” he asked. “How did you not cut me off immediately after I wasted all your money and got you mauled by a bear?”
“Because you’re my friend, and I want to hang out with you. Most of the time,” I amended. “Not when you’re being strange about my dating life.”