Sweet Dandelion

“Babe, who’s at the door?” Comes from somewhere inside the apartment and I cannot stop my smile.

“You and my brother?” Sasha gives me a sheepish look. “I’m not mad.”

Amused, but not mad.

Sage rounds the corner, paling when he sees me. “Dani! You’re home!”

He looks pleased, but then he realizes Sasha is standing there, and what I’ve easily deduced.

“’Bout time you got laid, big bro.” I saunter past my friend into the condo, setting the carrier down. “Sasha if I’d known you were here I would’ve brought you something.”

“I … um … I’m going to change.”

She runs down the hall to my brother’s room.

Sage leans against the counter, looking a bit ill.

“You’re pale. Drink some coffee.” I grab his from the carrier and extend it to him.

Sasha returns dressed in tight fitting ripped jeans and a turtleneck sweater.

“I’ll go.” She goes to grab her bag.

I shake my head. “Stay, I don’t care. Seriously.”

Maybe a couple of months ago I would’ve been livid to walk into something like this, especially with the irony considering how Sage felt about Lachlan and me. But I also understand my situation with Lachlan was way more complicated than just our ages. My therapist is helping me see that.

Sasha looks very uncomfortable, but when she exchanges a look with my brother she puts her bag back down and pulls out one of the stools.

“When did you get home?” Sage asks, running his fingers through his already mussed hair—it’s not hard to guess from what.

“Oh, a couple of months ago.”

Sage chokes on the coffee he was about to swallow. “Did you say months?”

“I had things I needed to do.”

“Like what? Where have you been staying? Not with that fuck face teacher dude, right?”

I glower. “You’re one to talk.” I shoot my gaze to Sasha, a tad sorry to drag her into this. “But no, I got my own place.”

“Where?”

“Near the university.”

He scrubs a hand over his jaw. “This is insane.”

“I got a car too,” I continue, my amusement growing when his eyes threaten to bug out. “It’s a cute little Subaru Crosstrek. It’s a hybrid and everything.” I try to suppress my smile as my brother flounders for a response. “By the way,” I trace my finger along the countertop, “if I do speak to Lachlan, it’s not your right to judge. I’m not downplaying that things shouldn’t have happened the way they did, but I can’t change it.”

He sighs. “You’re going to be the end of me. You’ve been back all this time?”

“Since January,” I interject. “I’ve been seeing a therapist. It’s been good for me. I’m committed this time, to getting better, and she’s been a great help.”

Sage stares at me like he doesn’t know me. I guess he doesn’t, even though it’s only been three months since I came back I know I’ve made great strides.

“Are you going to talk to him?” Sage asks.

“Maybe, I’m not really sure what I want. I still love him,” I admit, and I realize it’s the first time I’ve said it aloud in a long time, “but … I guess I’m scared to see him after all this time.”