Page 138 of Tobias

“That’s it?” I nod, and she bursts into tears again, falling against me. “After the way I’ve treated you, that’s it? You’re just going to let it go?”

“You’re my sister. We’re supposed to fight,” I say, trying to joke, but she doesn’t laugh. “Dad wouldn’t want us hating each other, Molly, and this isn’t entirely your fault. I should have said something sooner.”

“No, no,” she mutters, shaking her head. It takes longer for her to get herself together this time, but I let her let it out. She needs this as much as I do.

When she pulls away, she gets a few more tissues from the box I left on the counter, wipes her face and eyes, then gives me a sad smile.

“I had to come by to apologize. Truthfully, I thought begging for your forgiveness would be much more difficult.”

“I’m not really an asshole,” I say. “Despite what you think.”

She huffs out a laugh.

“I can see that.”

I shrug, shoving my hands into my pockets.

The doorbell rings again, and this time I know it’s him.

“Sorry, I’m totally intruding.” Molly sniffles, running a hand over her hair.

“If you need to stay, I’ll tell him to leave.”

I never thought I’d see the day when I told anyone to leave for my sister, either, but here we are.

“Oh no, definitely not,” she says, waving me off. “But I would like it if we could make plans?”

I nod. “Of course we can. I’ll text you tomorrow?”

“Thank you, Tobias.” She gives me another hug, and I walk her to the door, pulling it open.

Theo looks a mix of devastated and in awe of seeing me. Like he’s never seen something so beautiful… Time seems to stop as we lock eyes, and for a moment, I feel like I can finally breathe again. But then he breaks it by glancing at my sister, who is awkwardly standing to the side.

“Hi,” she says to him. “Sorry to be a bother. I’m leaving.”

“It’s not a bother,” I tell her. She gives me one last hug and then goes, smiling at Theo as she passes him. I watch her until she gets into her car and then I bring my attention back to Theo, who is standing on my porch in the drizzling rain in nothing but a T-shirt and sweatpants, looking better than ever.

“Come in,” I say, stepping to the side.

Theo hesitates a moment before stepping in. “That was—”

“My sister,” I say.

“Yeah, I thought so.” I frown at him, raising a brow. How does he know that? “You look alike,” he says with a shrug.

“Do we? Never heard that before. At least, not in twenty years.”

“When’s the last time you were seen together by a stranger?”

“Good point.”

We go into my living room, and then all words fail us. We stand there, in what should be awkwardness, but somehow feels comforting, staring at one another like we forgot how to act or speak. He’s here, in my house, and that feels like a big step. I know he wants to be here, but now that he’s here, I know I want him here, too. Maybe for always.

“Hi,” I finally say.

His smile is slow and sweet. “Hi,” he answers almost bashfully. “How have you been?”

His words are soft, unsure. Like he doesn’t know if he’s supposed to talk or wait for me to talk. This bout of shynessis different from what I’ve seen from him before. I’ve seen so many parts of Theo in the short time we were together. His nervous shyness that first day, then his eager but hesitant side when things turned sexual.

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