Page 69 of Strictly Against Policy

I sighed. “I’m not giving her any kind of preferential treatment. If anything, they’re grateful we’re fighting less at work.”

“Why? Because you get to kiss her now?” my sister asked. I flashed her a look of disbelief as she nodded her head slowly. Andy started laughing, stifling the sound of it with a hand over his mouth. “You have no idea how much I wanted to smoosh your faces together when we came by for Andy’s vitamins, and you two were bickering in front of us.”

I scoffed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You were jealous when Lina was talking to Andy.”

I felt a muscle in my jaw feather at the mention of my girlfriend giving the man she used to be in love with any form of attention. “I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”

My sister and her husband laughed. “Congratulations, Jonathan,” she said. “It all makes sense now. No wonder you were so obsessed with her in high school.”

My brows furrowed as I stood up. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Julie smirked. “Are you trying to say that I’m wrong?”

Even if it was true, why should I admit the truth to my sister of all people? “Yes.”

“Come on, Jonathan. You’ve always been obsessed with her. You could never stop talking about her, even now.”

Andy only chuckled when I looked in his direction, and Julie just joined him again. I shook my head and rolled my eyes childishly.

“Anyway, thanks for the talk, Julie,” I said. “I need to head out.”

“Because your girl’s waiting for you?” she asked.

I glared at her as I walked toward the door. She giggled. “I’ll make sure to make her some cookies. Then, you can’t say I never bake you any.”

“Why do I have to go to Lina’s place to eat your damn cookies? Couldn’t you just give them directly to me instead of my girl—” I didn’t realize I fell into her trap until her eyes started sparkling. I refused to finish that sentence.

“Oh? So, you admit you’re dating Lina Lee?” Julie smirked as I huffed.

“I plead the fifth,” I quipped. I unbolted the door with a long exhale.

Julie and Andy continued to laugh. “I’ll make sure to bake Lina those double chocolate chip cookies you like.”

I glared at them as I stepped out of their home and into the cold darkness again. “Make sure it’s dark chocolate. With sea salt on top.”

“Exactly how you like it, I know! But you could also thank me for being so considerate,” Julie called after me.

I huffed, looking back into the home my sister had built with my brother-in-law. Their residence was covered in soft shades of cream, green, brown, and life. Happiness sparked across my body, warming me down to the soul. Tears sprang in my eyes one second, and were gone in the next with a quick and sweeping blink.

My older sister had never looked so grown up and like an adult until now—in the arms of her husband with her growing pregnant belly.

This was how our lives looked twenty-two years after our dad passed away. Still smiling. Still happy. Always missing him, but still living life as much as we could.

“Thank you,” I said. My sister’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting my gratitude. “Make sure to lock the door. Good night, you two.”

I closed the door behind me and made my way through the lined rows of townhouses to get to Lina’s. My mind was brewing with various thoughts: my mom with her newfound partner, when I should tell her I knew she was dating again. And then, my brain darted to Lina.

God, Lina.

A rush of guilt surged through me. I ran off to Julie and Andy’s, more focused on my family than having dinner with her as we’d originally planned. A numbing sensation traveled from my fingers down to my toes from the cold. I ruined our night. Regret loomed over me in a thick haze when my girlfriend opened the door for me.

She was trying not to frown. “Is everything alright?” Her voice was gentle.

I sighed, leaning into her and resting my head on her shoulder. She quickly wrapped her arms around me. “Yeah,” I mumbled.

“You don’t look alright.” Her words were muffled by my thick shoulder.