“Is something wrong?”
“No.” She shakes her head quickly, like she’s hiding something.
I set the flowers on her table by the door, noticing the scent of garlic in the air and the kitchen table set for three. “Who’s joining Eli for dinner?”
Scarlett fidgets, then crinkles her nose. “That’s what I need to tell you…”
I turn to face her. “Tell me what?”
“We are.”
“What?”
Scarlett’s face crumples with guilt. “Listen, I know I should’ve warned you, but I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”
That’s when I realize this was never a date.
I take her elbow and lead her back out into the stairwell so we can have privacy.
I shut the door behind us. “You thought having me over fordinner with your brother was a good idea? He won’t even—” I pause, reading Scarlett’s guilty expression again. “Wait…is this your attempt to get Eli and me to talk?”
“Of course not!” she insists.
I give her a pointed look. “Scarlett.”
She cringes. “Okay, maybe it was,” she admits. “I just thought if I could get you two in the same room, you could work things out, talk about old times, remember how much fun you used to have.”
“Fun?” I shake my head. “I don’t think you understand, Scarlett. Eli doesn’t want to have fun with me.”
“Why not?”
My mouth opens, then closes. There are promises I’ve kept longer than some friendships have lasted—and this is one of them.
“Because things are different now,” I tell her, folding my arms. “We’re different people.”
“How?” she challenges. “You used to be best friends. Now you barely acknowledge each other.”
“He doesn’t want me dating his sister, for one.”
She rolls her eyes. “He doesn’t get a vote in who I date.”
That is probably true, but it doesn’t change his feelings about me. He will always be the protective, older brother.
“It’s complicated, Scarlett.”
“Why can’t you resolve it tonight?” She seems frustrated that I’m not willing to try. “I even made his favorite pasta.”
“So you’re bribing him?”
“It’s not bribery.” She crosses her arms. “It’s sisterly love.”
“Scarlett, one dinner with him won’t change anything.” I pause, realizing something. “Wait. He does know I’m coming, right?”
She looks away. “Well…no.”
“Scarlett.”
“It was the only way! Besides, if this fixes things,it’ll be worth it.”