"I want you to consider something, Mal." Mandy set a bowl of mixed berries and a cup of vanilla yogurt on the counter in front of him. "Because I think it's the best solution all around."
It was the only solution to Mandy's way of thinking. She just didn't tell him that. Malcolm had come a long way from the shy, withdrawn, and adorably awkward guy Sorcha brought home with her. Still, there was a certain boundary between them.
One she respected out of love for both Malcolm and Sorcha.
Mandy hadn't imagined herself getting close to Malcolm. He wasn't the usual sort of guy she hung out with. Like Sorcha, though, she'd been drawn to his sadness, his loneliness, and his silent need to simply feel like he belonged.
Like he mattered.
Her younger sister had been like Malcolm in many ways. Mandy couldn't remember how many cuts she cleaned, bruises she iced or sore muscles she massaged because Tara pushed herself too hard at the gym in an attempt to exhaust herself enough to sleep.
She couldn't remember all the times she sat on the bathroom floor with her sister's head in her lap, stroking her hair, and keeping pressure on a cut that went too deep.
She lost count of all the late night phone calls from their mom telling her that Tara disappeared again. The frantic searches and paranoia about where she might find her sister and in what condition this time.
She forgot how many trips there were to the ER. The drunken stupors and parade of girlfriends who fed her sister pills that didn't mix well with the cocktail of drugs she already took to help her function.
Maybe that was why she felt so strongly about Malcolm. She saw so much of Tara in him and wanted to help him as she couldn't help her sister.
"What is?" Suspicion crept across his face. "What are you talking about?"
"I want you to consider moving in with Sorcha and I next year."
Mal blinked those gorgeous baby blues at her, clearly surprised by the suggestion.
"Oh, but..."
"You already live with us now," she pointed out before he could launch whatever protest he had in mind. "This just makes it official."
His head tilted to one side. Profiling me, she realized, eyes remaining locked on his. Trying to figure out if I'm being sincere or setting him up.
That he doubted the offer, hurt. Not for herself but for him. Trust is earned, as her grandfather used to say. And should never be broken.
"Why do you want me to consider moving in with you and Sorch?"
"Well, living together makes it easier for us to keep an eye on one another."
"Keep an eye on me, you mean." Mal's face reflected his dismay and discomfort. "Because I'm such a mess."
"No." Mandy pushed the bowl of berries closer to him. Subtly encouraging him to try and eat a few. Not that he did. "I know Mr. and Mrs. Corbin have been concerned about Sorch and I living alone. Especially after the recent string of break-in's that have happened. Us living together will give them one less thing to worry about."
"My mother won't be so thrilled about it."
"We can figure out how to get around her objections later." She poured some coffee into her mug. "What you think about it comes first."
Malcolm slowly reached for the yogurt. "Did you talk with Sorcha about it?"
"We talked about it last night while you were in class."
One eyebrow arched. "And she's okay with it?"
Mandy had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep herself from blurting out how thrilled Sorcha was at the prospect of them living together.
"She said to talk with you." The truth, insomuch as Malcolm needed to know of it. "But agreed living together made a lot of sense."
"I'll think about it." He opened the yogurt but didn't reach for a spoon. "Okay?"
"Okay."
With Mal, it was the best she could expect.
A/N: Hello, all! Hope this finds you well!
I just want to send a special thank you to Rookblonkorules for their lovely reviews!
