“Final y…he’s speechless,” Ryan said, relaxing back against the bed.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” I said.
Ryan frowned. “Why not? Because he’s Jared? He has no problem tel ing everyone else what they’ve done wrong, but he hasn’t made the best choices, either. He insinuated I’m keeping Claire from doing her job when he was in the same situation not too long ago.”
“I know.”
“Then why defend him? Why can’t you just say, ‘Ryan, you’re right. Jared’s wrong.’”
“Because he’s trying his best. Because everything he does, he tries to do what’s right, and what is in everyone’s best interest. He loves me, and you rubbing it in his face after the fact is just cruel.”
“He should keep his opinions to himself,” Ryan said, crossing his arms.
“Trying to hold on to some control in a situation where he has none is not unreasonable. Claire is his baby sister. He’s loved her far longer than you have, and he has firsthand knowledge of how hard it is to be in love with your Taleh. He’s just trying to save her from what we’ve experienced.
You should think about that.”
Ryan raised an eyebrow. “So you regret it?”
“What?”
“You regret fal ing in love with him? Knowing everything?”
“No, and no! Of course not. It’s just hard, that’s all .”
“What isn’t?”
“A normal relationship?”
“Says who?”
“Normal people.”
“What would you know about normal people?”
“I know a few!” I said. Ryan was attempting to subdue a smile. He enjoyed getting under my skin. Poor Claire. She wasn’t the most patient person, anyway, and the most annoying, argumentative, persistent butt nugget—as Bex had once cal ed him—was in love with her.
“What are you smiling about?” he said.
“Oh, nothing. Feel better,” I said, waving to him before opening the door.
“Wait! You’re going to leave me alone?”
“We’re never alone,” I smiled.
Jared stood in the hal way with Claire. She was looking up at him, whispering words of comfort. He seemed to be a bit calmer, listening to her every word.
“He’s all yours,” I smiled to Claire.
“Huh?” Claire said.
I took Jared’s hand. “He knows the exact thing to say to throw you into a rage, and you just let him.”
“It’s different with him. I can’t explain it other than pure, unadulterated hatred.”
“Once upon a time it was me he was after, and now he’s being just as annoying while pursuing your baby sister.”
“Exactly.”
“What if he wasn’t?”
“Wasn’t what?” he said, clueless as to where I was going with the conversation. A rush of exhilaration swept over me. Jared being on the wrong side of enlightenment was quite satisfying.
“In love with Claire. Honey,” I said, standing on my tiptoes to wrap my arms around his neck, “this is a very good thing.”
“For you, maybe,” Claire grumbled.
“Did you forget what it means that he loves her? They are meant to be together; not him and me. Best of all ? You would’ve had to deal with Ryan either way, but because he loves Claire, it isn’t because you’re watching him annoy the crap out of me—it’s because he’s annoying Claire.” I al owed a proud, wide smile to stretch across my face, even though Claire looked as if she wanted to shove her fist into the wal . Through my face.
Jared’s face relaxed, and he chuckled. “Al true,” he said, leaning down to kiss me. “It could be worse. Much worse.” He looked to Claire. “Sorry.
Good luck.”
She glared at both of us as we departed down the hal .
“Er…hey, Nina?” Claire cal ed.
I turned, noticing again how tiny she was. Her skintight blue leggings and oversized, off-the-shoulder T-shirt made her seem even smal er. Her ankle-high boots scooted across the hospital floor as she approached.
“Yes?”
She laced her fingers on top of her head, clearly exasperated. “You real y think I’m just being stubborn? You think that’s why he’s my Taleh? Because we’re meant for each other?”
“Yes,” I said. “You care about him, don’t you?”
“I don’t know,” she shrugged. She let one hand fal to her side; the other to her mouth. “I guess so.”.
I looked to Jared and gestured with my eyes to Claire. Jared frowned, but when I persistently jerked my head in Claire’s direction, he spoke up.
“It’s okay, Claire. I can’t say I like the guy, but I don’t see another purpose for it to happen the way it did. Do you? Because if you do, I’d love to hear — mmph,” he puffed, jerking when I elbowed him in the ribs. I didn’t hurt him, of course, but I stil enjoyed his reaction.
“No,” Claire whispered. “I don’t see another purpose.” She walked slowly to Ryan’s door, deep in thought. She turned the knob, and then shook her head. “Doesn’t mean I should muddy the waters.”
We fol owed her in, noticing her pulling her chair farther away from Ryan’s bed. She ate her burger quietly, and Ryan watched her for a moment, and then looked down when he realized he wouldn’t get the reaction he’d hoped for.