Read Online ALL THINGS PRETTY PART TWO by M. Leighton - Free Book Online Page B

doesn’t like it, but he doesn’t argue.   “Why don’t you brush your teeth and
stuff while I walk Sloane out?”
    He grunts something and pushes past me, obviously
displeased. But at least he’s not fighting me at every turn.
    I help Sloane with the last of the dishes and then go back
to check on Travis.   He’s lying,
fully clothed, diagonal across his bed, crashed.
    I pull the door up so that we don’t wake him and I walk
Sloane out.
    She stops on the stoop.   “So, this girl…”
    I turn to face my sister.   “What about her?”
    “You love her.”   She’s not grinning or teasing me.   She’s not gloating or goading me.   She’s genuine and serious.   And maybe even a little worried.
    “So what if I do?”
    She nods, holding her tongue for a few seconds.   “I just…I wish that…”
    When her pause doesn’t end, I prompt her.   “What the hell, woman?   Spit it out.”
    “I know how you are, Sig. I know you’ve never really wanted
to love somebody, not in the permanent kind of way.”
    “I love you idiots that I’m related to,” I say jokingly.
    “That’s not what I mean and you know it. It’s just that…
God, I just hate that when you finally found someone to give your heart to, she
turns out to be a felon. One that comes with enough baggage to–”
    “Stop right there,” I interrupt, my temper flaring.   “She’s not a felon.   And she has less baggage than I do. A sick mother and a brother. That’s all, but it’s enough to
break most people.”   I take a deep
breath to calm down.   “Look, you
don’t even know her and I’d appreciate you keeping comments like this to
yourself until you at least meet her.   She’s not who you think she is.”
    Her eyebrows are raised, her eyes wide, and she’s
backtracking. “Okay, okay. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just thought…”
    “Well don’t.   Don’t think. You don’t know half of what’s going on.   Dad only knows what I told him.”
    This time she does smile.   “Maybe Dad knows more than what you
think.”
    “Like what?”
    “He thinks you love her.”
    “So what if I do?”
    “Nothing.   Not…well, not really. We all want that for you.”
    “Thanks, but I don’t need your permission.”
    “I know you don’t.   Look, don’t get all defensive . I’m just worried
about you.”
    “Well, don’t be. I know what I’m doing.”
    “Sig, you’ve never wanted…this. This kind
of relationship.   Love.   And I’m just concerned that now that you’re jumping in…”
    “I’m not jumping in.”
    “Okay, okay. I just…Just forget it.”   She raises her hands in surrender.
    Now I feel bad. I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “I
appreciate the concern, but I know what I’m doing.   Just trust me.”
    “I do trust you, Sig.   I just worry about what will happen if this doesn’t work out like you
think.   You never wanted to fall in love,
to risk losing someone like we lost Mom. And now that you’re taking the chance,
it’s on a woman who…”
    “It’ll all work out. One way or the other.   I promised her I’d fix this and I have
every intention of keeping that promise.”
    After a few seconds of mulling over my words, Sloane narrows
her eyes on me.   “You-you aren’t considering doing something stupid, are you?”
    “Like what?”
    She leans in closer, like if looks hard enough she might be
able to find an answer.   “Like something stupid.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.   I’ve talked to the DA. It’ll all work
out.”
    “And if it doesn’t?”
    “It will.”
    “But if it doesn’t?”   Her voice is getting louder, more frantic.   “Sig, promise me that you won’t do
something crazy like throw your life away for this girl.”
    “I’m not going to–”
    “Sig, promise me.”
    I stare down into my sister’s knowing eyes, so much wiser
than what I ever gave her credit for.   Maybe living with a tattoo artist has given her a lot of