18. Clarissa

I stretch out my legs,prop a bowl of popcorn on my lap, and release a breath. Work was a little hectic today. Grabbing the remote, I change the channel while taking a handful of popcorn. I know I look greedy, but eating one kernel at a time isn’t happening, so I smile as I stuff my face in pure delight. I find a new show I’ve been meaning to get into and take another bite.

“Let’s get into it,” I mutter to myself, crossing my feet on the ottoman. When the doorbell rings, I narrow my eyes. At the same time, my phone chimes.

Twins (Theo): I’m at the door. I know you’re debating not answering.

Me: No. I wasn’t

Twins (Theo): Clarissa

Me: I’m coming.

I most certainly was debating not answering. I’ve been waiting all day to relax in a quiet room and eat popcorn while I watch TV. He’s lucky I love them, or I definitely would have. I swear my mother-in-law and the twins must have a sense of when I’m most comfortable because this is always when they decide to drop in for a visit.

I open the door, and Theo is propped on the door frame, looking like a sad puppy. I poke my lips to the side and move out of the way for him to enter. The twins are seventeen, so in some ways, they feel like my little brothers. I have no siblings of my own, but they really can talk to me about anything.

“You drove?”

“Nah, Tate dropped me off. There’s some party happening. I told him to come get me in a few hours.”

I nod and make my way to the couch, picking up my bowl on the way. Theo sits at the opposite end of the couch with his phone in hand. He, unlike Tate, is quiet and much more reserved.

“You want to talk about it?”

“No.”

I nod because this was expected. He’s not going to come out and say what’s bothering him even though it’s clear something is. Mrs. Williams’s call from yesterday filters my mind, and now I’m almost certain these are girl troubles he’s dealing with.

“Popcorn?” I ask, holding my bowl out. He hesitates but scoots closer, preparing to dip his hand in my bowl, and I pull back.

“No, no, no. You, sir, get your own bowl.”

He laughs but gets up for the kitchen and comes back with an empty bowl. Once I split the popcorn, I press play, and we silently eat and watch TV.

“Will it ever get easier? I mean, she broke up with me, and she didn’t even give a reason. I keep trying to figure out what I did.”

I pause the show and turn to Theo, a frown etched deep on my face. “Oh, no. Theo, don’t do that. I don’t know what happened or why she decided she wanted to leave, but you can’t dwell on that. She didn’t know it, but she was making room for the next girl. The heartache won’t last forever. One day, you’ll look back and wonder why you ever worried. You probably won’t even remember her name.”

He nods, but I can see the hesitation. The gift of time can be a curse.

“I don’t know about that. It feels like I’ll never be the same. Tate keeps telling me to get over it, but it’s not that easy.”

“It’s not. I think Tate means well, but you have to pass through the pain. So it’s okay to feel sad. You can sit on my couch and cry if that’s what you want. Just know your brother loves you even if his delivery is harsh.”

“I’m not going to cry, Clarissa.”

I hold up my hands, and he laughs for the first time. I think he just needed a change of scenery, and I can imagine Mrs. Williams following him around and asking if he was okay every five minutes. He doesn’t add any more, and I don’t ask any questions. We sit on the couch eating popcorn and watching TV, and it’s a pretty good time.