Relativity - a Vignette

He brought the bottles of coke over to where I was seated on the wooden bench under the gazebo at the bottom of my parents’ garden. The glass was covered in condensation, except where his sweaty palm had made contact with it. I knew in my heart of hearts that he was about to pop the Big Question. He took a hefty gulp of his soda and started to cough, covering his mouth with the same fist that clutched the coke bottle. I pretended not to notice and instead, fussed with the hem of my summer dress. He looked sheepishly at me and took a deep breath before coming out with it: ‘Would you mind if I dated your sister … instead of you?’ ‘Of course not,’ I lied. I could see the eager face of my sister through the rose arbour. Walking over to her took the longest time.