Page 75 of Hoax and Kisses
“It makes a lot of sense, and please know that I would never hurt your sister on purpose. Is there anything I can do to make her more comfortable? Maybe I can show her photos of the hotel? And you could prepare a bag with some of her favorite snacks and books. That could help her stay grounded while we’re in Vancouver.”
What else? I delve into the hazy memories of my college days. It seems like a lifetime ago, back when I was a completely different woman.
Though maybe that’s not entirely true anymore. Lately, I feel closer to that version of myself than I have in years. I’d almost forgotten she existed, that woman who used to go out with friends after an exam and lose track of time in some dimly lit bar. Who danced until her feet ached and her cheeks hurt from smiling. Who spent sleepless nights bent over textbooks, learning everything she could about what she loved. Now I find myself reaching for her, dusting her off like an old coat in the back of a closet I’ve kept shut for years.
“We can map out an itinerary and a rough schedule as well,” I add. “To give her a better idea of what we’ll be doing and what she can expect.”
Matt blinks.
“What?”
“How do… How do you know all this? What to do?”
“Oh.” I glance down and hide a smile. “Before my dad got his claws into me, I studied pediatric nursing and worked with a lot of autistic kids during clinicals. It’s a bit foggy, but the more I think about it, the more it’s coming back.”
His surprise morphs into something else, something I can’t quite pin down. But the way he watches me makes the blood in my veins pump more fiercely.
I reach across the gearshift and lay my hand on his.
“All her life, Daphne has been surrounded by people who don’t understand her,” he says, as if empowered by my touch. “My ex couldn’t stand how much time I spent with her or the space she takes up in my life. So, now, I’m a bit overly cautious about who I introduce her to. I promised myself that if you weren’t okay with her, then our deal would be over. No hesitation. When you brought us breakfast, I was ready to fight. I was so worried you’d say something offensive.”
He lets out a soft laugh, and I echo it.
“But I didn’t,” I murmur.
“No,” he says, matching my tone. “You didn’t.”
Silence stretches, the air in the truck cab shifting to accommodate the growing chemistry between us.
The relief on his face is mostly for his sister, but part of me can’t help feeling that he’s also relieved he didn’t have to let me go.
“Your ex… Andie, right?”
He studies me. “How do you know?”
“Mia mentioned her this morning.”
“Right.” He gives a dry, bitter chuckle. “The whole town remembers because I didn’t come out of my house for months after she left. I think they all grieved her departure right alongside me. She became family for a lot of people around here. I wasn’t the only one who was hurt when she decided she was done.”
“Including Daphne,” I breathe, my gaze fixed on the horizon. I try not to let envy distract me from what’s important, but that doesn’t stop it from stinging just beneath my skin.
“Including Daphne,” Matt repeats. “She doesn’t really grasp all the facets of what a relationship is, but after spending so much time with Andie, she became obsessed with the idea of love. Relationships. She wanted to find her own person and kept asking me how she could go on dates.”
A tightness builds in my throat. “The breakup must have been tough on her.”
Who breaks up with someone because of their autistic sister? She must have been something special if Matt fell in love with her. Then again, maybe she was just good at hiding her true colors at first.
I can only imagine how easy it was for Daphne to grow attached to Andie, with her soft heart. The loss must have been unfathomable.
“Yeah, it was.” Matt sinks his fingers into his hair. “She loved Andie so much. She asked me for months and months where she was and why she wasn’t coming back. That wrecked me even more than the breakup itself. And the worst part is that I had to lie to her over the reason she left. I couldn’t tell her the truth. It would have crushed her, and I wasn’t about to hurt her even more. She has enough to deal with my mom already.”
I frown. “Your mom is having a hard time with your sister?”
“I wouldn’t call it a hard time. But she refuses to accept that Daphne has needs different from most girls her age.”
I rub my thumb over his hand. “Weird family dynamics is a language I understand. Your mom might need a bit more time to adjust.”
“Maybe…” He raises his eyes to mine, soft and heavy, like he’s been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Juggling so much—his work, caring for his sister, the issues with his mom—must be tough on him. “You don’t mind letting her come to Vancouver, then?”
