Page 237 of Just for the Plot

I tug on the brim of my hat and say, “Want to sit?”

She swallows and then after a few seconds, she nods.

We both head to the couch, and once we’ve sat down, she picks up a throw pillow and holds it as she crosses her legs. She looks out my window and I wonder if she’s going to be the first one to talk when she says, “I don’t know what to say, Bennett.” Her eyes meet mine. “I truly…I think I’m still trying to comprehend everything.”

“I get that,” I say. “And like Bower said, I’m sorry you found out this way.”

“Were you ever planning on telling me?” she asks.

“Of course,” I answer, my voice softening. “Gabby, you matter so much to me and I want you to be a part of every aspect of my life—”

“Besides this one.”

“No.” I shake my head. “It was…it’s been hard. Bower wasn’t lying when she said she agonized over her feelings. It’s been a fucking roller coaster, one that has put me through the wringer because she didn’t want to hurt you. She didn’t want to break your trust, and therefore, she was off and on with me until…well, she couldn’t fight it anymore. It wasn’t until recently that I’ve actually felt confident in our relationship, that I didn’t think she was going to slip between my fingers. And with that confidence, I was going to come to you with the truth, but you beat us to it.”

She bites down on the corner of her mouth. “How long?”

“When she moved here,” I answer. “It took a bit, but I started making my move. She never hit on me. It was always me moving in on her.”

“How long for you?” she asks.

“Like I said, ever since I met her. And sure, maybe when I was sixteen, that was infatuation. But as I got older and spent more time with her, that infatuation morphed into so much more. She became a best friend, and from there, so much more. And I’m sorry, Gabby, I really am. I know how much she means to you, but…I love her and I can’t deny that anymore.”

She slowly nods and stares out the window. “And she loves you?”

“She does.” I reach over and force my sister to look me in the eyes when I say this, “You asked her to protect me, take care of me, right?”

“I did. I made her promise.”

“Well, she just did, Gabby. She stood in front of you and stood up for me, for our love. Even though I know she was breaking inside knowing that she lost your trust. She did that because she didn’t want to hurt me.”

She stares at me for a moment and then slowly nods. “You’re right, Bennett. She did.”

“She could have walked off. She could have let me handle it, but instead, she didn’t. She took it upon herself to talk to you and stand up for us. Protect us.”

“She did.”

“So, shouldn’t that mean something?”

Gabby looks off to the side. I can see her trying to accept the idea of us.

“I know it might be weird and it might take some time to get used to, but I promise you, this isn’t a fling. This isn’t something that will break your relationship with her. I think it’s only going to amplify it.”

“How?” she asks, her eyes finding mine.

“Because I’m not letting her go,” I say. “She’s it for me, Gabby. And when the time is right, when she’s ready, I will propose. I don’t want anyone else. It’s her and only her.”

“Oh my God,” Gabby says, sitting a little farther back. “You’re serious.”

“Dead serious, sis. She’s it. She’s the only person I’ve ever loved and the only person I ever want to love.”

“Wow. I’m just…” She shakes her head and then takes a deep breath before looking at me. “Wow, Bennett, I’m…I’m so happy for you.” Tears stream down her face before she leans in and hugs me. I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight.This is the sister I’ve loved forever. This woman.“All I want is for you to be happy. We’ve been through so much together, so fucking much, and I just want you to have the happily ever after you deserve.”

When she pulls away, I smile at her. “Bower is that for me. She’s my everything, and I never want to lose that. I love you, Gabby, so much, but I need you to accept this.”

She nods. “I do.”

“Really?” I ask.