Page 36 of Always a Chance
Her dad only nodded and left us alone in the entryway.
Talia hugged her arms across her chest. Her tight curls were wet from the shower and sat loose across her shoulders. “What do you want?”
I swallowed down the irritation welling in me, the desire to meet her stubbornness with my own. “To apologize.”
Her mouth popped open in surprise. “Oh. I, uh, wasn’t expecting that. Do you want to come in?”
I followed her into the living room. “I don’t have much time.” Tamales. Tamales. Talia always loved them too. “But I think we got some signals crossed at one point. Tals, I didn’t mean to question your professionalism or integrity.”
I paced the length of the small room. “This whole thing makes me nervous. I’ve been so focused on it I can’t write, can’t control my own emotions. Everything I’ve worked for might disappear, and yet, I need to do this. I haven’t been saying the right things, but it’s not because I don’t trust you. Whatever has happened between us, you’re still Talia, and there’s no one I’d rather have writing this piece.”
She worried her lip, her eyes not meeting mine. “Johnny.” A sigh pushed out of her. “Thanks for saying that.” Finally, her eyes lifted. “I mean it. I would never betray your trust. But I still can’t write the feature.”
“Why not?”
“My paper put the kibosh on it.”
“I know, but I thought…” I didn’t know what I thought. That she’d find a way like she always did. That she’d know the answers. I wouldn’t get down on my hands and knees like Aidan recommended. She deserved better than that, more sincere. I couldn’t stop myself from reaching for her hand, folding it into mine. It felt familiar, like it fit.
“Johnny,” she breathed.
“I need your help, Tals.” I squeezed her hand. “I don’t know where it’ll be published or how we’ll get the truth out, but I don’t trust anyone else to write my truths.”
Her breath quivered on the way out, and green eyes locked onto mine. “I’m sorry too.”
“For what?”
“I kind of did want to write a hit piece.” She smiled, a true Talia smile with perfect white teeth and deep dimples.
“Not cool.”
She laughed. “Well, I never would have. But you can be really obnoxious.”
“You sound like my siblings.”
She smiled and looked down at our locked hands, her lips slowly curving down. Slipping her fingers from mine, she held them close to her side. “Okay. I’ll do it. Where do we start?”
“How about Sunday dinner?”
18
TALIA
Walking through the front door of the Kelly house was surreal. It almost felt like no time at all had passed.
Tanner’s and Finley’s voices drifted out of the living room, arguing about something I didn’t want to try to guess. Mrs. Kelly clucked about the kitchen, always moving, always taking care of her family.
Mr. Kelly and Shane sat silently on the couch, letting the rest of their family be loud enough for all of them.
And yet, it was a new world. Various spouses were sprinkled throughout the house. Mariana’s son complained as his mom forced him into the bathroom to clean up for dinner. A dog barked whenever the noise got to deafening levels.
Johnny, probably the most talkative of the bunch, stood quietly at my side. We may have called somewhat of a truce when I agreed to help him, but it didn’t make this any easier.
I once belonged with this family, fit into their dynamic like I’d been born into it. Now, I stood on the outside as the girl who left them all, who hadn’t been able to face her second family when her first was torn so completely asunder.
Mrs. Kelly walked out of the kitchen and stopped when she saw me. “Who let you two in?”
“Someone who cares about me a lot more than you,” Johnny quipped.
