“I helped cement your identities, but I didn’t ask for specifics. It’s not that I didn’t want to know,” she said and kissed between Kristen’s breasts. “I thought too much information would mean prying into something that you and your sister might want to keep private. If you need to talk about what you went through, I’ll listen and won’t judge. But if you don’t want to talk about it, I’m okay with that too.” Their conversation had veered into something much more serious, and she wasn’t sure why, but it seemed important to Kristen.

“How do you know you wouldn’t judge?” Kristen’s hands stilled and she didn’t shy away from looking her in the eye.

“My father was the best man I ever knew.” She placed her hands on Kristen’s hips. “He taught me a lot of important things before he died, but the most important was to not judge anyone by the experiences that helped them survive. What you and your sister went through, even when your father came back, makes you strong.” She caressed Kristen’s cheek and patted the bed next to her so she’d sit. “Other people might’ve quit, but you got out of there and made your way to me.”

“It was all Dallas. Without her I’d still be Sue Lee Moores from Sparta, Tennessee. I lucked out in the sibling department. Because of her I didn’t grow up with an abusive prick of a father who wanted his daughters as bed warmers and moneymakers.” Kristen opened her mouth but turned her head away before she said anything else. “It’s what makes me think that you’ll eventually pat me on the head and send me on my way. I’m some stupid kid who had to have her sister fight all her battles for her.”

“Don’t put words in my mouth or believe anything like that. You’re incredibly special, and I realize that, even if most days I think I’m holding you back.” She put her fingers over Kristen’s lips when she started to disagree. “The thing you should think about instead of all this gloomy stuff is that it might be me who’s scared that you’ll eventually think all those nights of watching old movies at home with me is one boring existence.”

“I’m sorry I called you brilliant. You’re such an idiot sometimes.” Kristen pulled her hair hard enough to get her to cock her head back. “If I wanted a college-aged fool who only thought about going out drinking and partying, I’d be with them right now. What I want are those nights with you, cooking for you, and sleeping next to you. I might be young, but I’m old enough to know what I want. Is there some reason you can’t understand that?”