Chapter 4
The ride home was brutal. Peter kept telling me how Neal was "not to be trusted" and "he would end up hurting me in the end" and how Peter "didn't want to have to send him back to jail for breaking my heart". I finally had it.
"Peter." I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I do not need you to be so worried about me. I am a grown woman. I've had my fair share of heart breaks and I know how to deal with it. Who I decide to date is in no way any of your business. I didn't even say I wanted to date Neal; I just want to see where this goes."
"Christina, you're my little sister and I can't stand seeing you hurt at all. I couldn't live with myself if I let Neal get close to you, and he ended up breaking your heart. He's a con man and you're...you're my baby sister and you always will be"
"Peter," I sighed, "That's really sweet. I know you care about me, but it's my choice, not yours. I am perfectly aware of Neal's past, and if I want to give it a try, I'll keep that in mind. I'm not a little girl anymore".
"Hon, she's right" said El as she rubbed Peter's arm. "It's sweet that you're so concerned, but Christina has a point. She knows who she's dealing with and who she chooses to get involved with. That's her choice and if she needs us, we'll be here for her."
I locked eyes with Elizabeth in the rearview mirror and mouthed a silent thank you. In return, I got a "we'll talk later".
Oh boy.
That night, El and I lay talking on my bed. For the past hour, we had been talking about the pros and cons of dating a con.
"Sweetie, are you sure that you want to get involved with Neal?" she asked me.
"El, I don't know anything right now. All I know is that I want to give this a shot and give it a chance to turn into something. Neal seems like he's really great. I know who he is and I am fully aware of his past, but I think I like him."
"You sound like your back in high school. 'I think I like him' pfft! What, do you have a crush on Neal Caffrey? " she said with a twinkle in her eye.
"Shut up El!" I said, giving her a playful shove. "Just because the cute conman wants to take me out for drinks instead of you!"
"Hmm well I have the sexy FBI agent in the next room… "
"Eww eww EWWW El ohmygod! You are NOT allowed to refer to my brother as sexy! And ugh I don't want to even think about what you two do in the other room! Eww!"
We erupted in a fit of giggles and we couldn't stop laughing.
Peter came in "Keep it down in here you two I'm trying to sleep!"
El and I looked at each other and then smiled.
"Pillow fight!" we both yelled and threw pillows at Peter.
Peter grinned at us and ran out of the room, and El and I cheered in triumph.
"Well, I better get to bed. This baby makes me pretty tired some nights."
"Sure" I said, "blame it on my future niece or nephew. Nice El, nice. Hey, can we go baby shopping tomorrow?"
"Of course!" El said. "Sleep tight honey, love you!"
"Love you too. El? "
"Yeah?"
"I missed you. A lot."
"Aww I missed you too." El said as she bent down to give me a hug. "See you in the morning!"
El walked out and I snuggled under my blankets. Even though Peter still didn't want Neal and I to end up together, he wasn't going to send Neal back to prison if we went out, and that was major progress for my brother.