Page 59 of The Only Thing That's Real

“You didn’t answer the question.”

“No, we haven’t.”

“Just a little smoochy, smoochy?”

“If that’s what you insist on calling it.”

“You really have a thing for hooking up with my friends, don’t you? Have you considered therapy to uncover your unresolved issues?”

Shit. That hadn’t even crossed my mind. Likely, because I only remember my five minutes with Mia in drunk flashbacks. I never had a thing for her. Never thought of her as anything other than my sister’s best friend.

“Please tell me you know this is different. I don’t remember Ryan ever being around. I didn’t even know she was from Goose Hollow until after she had been with us for weeks.”

“Hey, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“I deserve it.”

“You do and you don’t. But you’re right, Ryan wasn’t over much until you were already long gone. Besides, she was pretty quiet, introverted until she left for college.”

“Yeah?”

“She’s like a supercharged version of the person she was. She found her voice when she moved away. Every visit home she’s more her authentic self. It’s strange, because she was great before, but now nothing can stop her.”

It warms my heart to hear the pride behind Daisy’s words. She’s proud of her friend. Her comments also prove what Ryan said is true, my sister is clueless about Ryan’shome life otherwise she would know why leaving town made such a difference in her personality.

“That’s nice to hear.”

“I’m not sure what kind of information you’re looking for, but she’s an open book. She lives in New York, so I don’t see her that often, but we make a point of getting together when she’s in town. She travels a lot for work and hasn’t been in a ton of relationships. I’m pretty sure she’s single, though.”

“She is,” I confirm.

“You hoping to change that?”

“Just trying to get to know her right now.”

“Well, she’d be great for you. Keep you on your toes. Tell you the truth.”

“I like that about her.”

“She won’t care that you’reKnox McKinnon, you know. Your status won’t phase her the least little bit.”

“She’s the real deal, isn’t she?”

“The realest.”

My sister confirms what I already know. You don’t meet a woman like Ryan and not want to call her yours. She isn’t mine yet, but if I’ve done anything right in this or a past life, I hope it’s enough to deserve her.

“Thanks for the talk, sis. I appreciate the call.”

“Talking to your sister is always better than texting. Especially about love.”

“Whoa, there. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

“Too late. I’m already manifesting the shit out of the two of you together. Don’t mess this up for me. I mean, you. Don’t mess this up foryou. It wouldn’t make me at all happy that my big brother and one of the coolest chicks I know were together. And if my gut is right, you’re gonna be inGoose Hollow a lot more, which means Ryan would be, too.”

“Love you, Daisy.”

“Love you, Knoxamillion. Get some sleep.”

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