Whiskey & Ribbons

by Leesa Cross-Smith

“Did you promise Eamon you’d take care of me if something happened to him?” Dalton takes my glass and lifts it to his lips, but it’s empty. He puts it back down. “Not like you think,” he says. “I want to know what you think I think.” “That’s confusing.” “You know what I mean.” Dalton shrugs. “It’s hard for both of us to accept things, so you probably think the only reason I moved in here and the only reason I’m with you like this and with Noah like this is because I owe it to Eamon.” “That’s not so crazy, though,” I say. I find the thought comforting and frustrating. I don’t want Dalton doing all of this out of obligation. But also, there are worse things in this world than someone keeping a promise. “Back before . . . everything . . . did you think Eamon’s parents adopted me, took me in, gave me everything they gave me out of obligation to Penelope or because they wanted to? Does it matter? Honestly? Does it make a difference? Aren’t they both love? Don’t they have the same results?” Dalton says. He’s had most of his life to think about these things. All these little flicks of truth, leaving bruises. We both sat under the silent weight of secrets, the heaviness of keeping them, of having them kept from us.

This is Evi confronting Dalton about The Pact and it took some whiskey to get to it, but I love this conversation because it says so much about where they are @ the moment. Evi, looking for answers. Dalton, pushing back and standing his ground. They both kinda switch up re: who is more in control over the course of the weekend and there are times when Dalton seems steadier than she is, but he's rocked by the kiss and confused...just as much as she is. Their feelings are so similar but it's taking them a bit to realize it.