Dark Child (Wild Men 5)

Right.

“I hadn’t realized until I accepted his friend request on Facebook. Brother of Gigi Watson, aka Augusta Watson. Griffin once said she was pretty, and we had a fight over that.”

I wince. “Oh, Soph…”

“I was so stupid.”

“No, you weren’t.”

“Yes, I was. Griff is… different from other guys. I should have realized.”

Giving in, I put my arm around her and pull her against me. “You mean, like, an asshole?”

“Cos! No, that’s not it.” She makes a disgruntled face, and I let her go. “I shouldn’t have left him. I misunderstood so many things. And then he got sick.”

“That’s not something you could have foreseen.”

It’s what brought her back to him. I wonder what would have happened otherwise.

“Cherish every moment. That’s what I failed to do. That was what proved me stupid. Cherish the moment, Cos. Go after the guy you want.”

“Yes, Master Yoda.”

She laughs a little. “Crap, sorry. I know I’m the last person who should hand out love advice…”

“Shush.”

“He gave me his number to give to you. Merc, that is. He’s looking for you, Cos. He thought I was you. But it’s not me he wants.”

“How can you be so sure?”

She sighs, rests her head on my shoulder. “Don’t be dense, sis.”

“What? He came to you, didn’t he? And you’re the prettier one.”

“Whatever.”

“Don’t whatever me. Look at you, with your feminine dresses and college classes and the love of your life. I dropped out of college, don’t have a home, and don’t even bother to wear make-up—”

“Cos, you’re making fun of me.” When I open my mouth to set her straight, she goes on, “You know why you dropped out of college, why you never settled down. You protected me from Mom’s fits for years, and then when it all went to hell, you were there for me. You’ve been helping me for the past year. You take no time for yourself.”

I find I don’t have anything to say, after all.

“Call that boy,” she says. “I know you want to.”

I sigh, squeeze her more tightly. “Love ya.”

“Love ya more.” She’s silent for a few beats, then lifts her head. “Will you call him?”

That is the question of the day.

“You sure about that?” Lin asks when I call her the next day to say I may not be going back right away. “Didn’t you call me yesterday crying that he’s in love with your sister?”

I might have done that.

Hey, it was a bad day.

“I’m not sure, no. But I was wrong… I think. No way to know until I meet him again face to face.”