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“And now I’m here because I needed to make sure you knew what really happened.” He swallows hard and then every so lightly, he cups my chin between his fingers and angles my face up toward his. My breathing turns erratic, every nerve sizzling under his touch. “I’m sorry, Arden. I hurt you and I messed up. I don’t expect you to forgive me, and I don’t expect you to still have feelings for me, but I couldn’t go another minute without telling you the truth.”
In the movies, this is the part where the couple kisses and makes up. In books it’s where the internal dialogue of the character is interrupted by an explosive kiss, by confessions, maybe a few rounds of amazing sex, and then everything works out. The third act break up is over. They get to live happily ever after. The end.
That’s not our story.
Ethan does lean down to kiss me, but I don’t let him.
I shut it all off.
Push him back.
Turn away.
“Thank you for telling me the truth but I’ve moved on and you should too.” He was right about one thing, I’m a Laurence now.
As much as I want him, I can’t lose them.
“Does it make it easier to belong to them if you hate me?”
“Yes.” No. God, I don’t know.
“It’s okay. I understand.”
I don’t know what I expect, more groveling? Him falling to his knees? But I get none of that, instead I get exactly what I asked for because he understands. The energy in the room shifts, the shadows recede, the glass door opens and shuts, and just as quickly as he appeared, Ethan King is gone.
If Sybil and Chandler are the big sister and brother I always dreamed of, then Hayes holds the title of goofy kid brother. The kid is hysterical and brilliantly gifted, and he’s also a giant pain in the ass. Of course, I love him for it.
“Can you please stop that?” Sybil all but screeches for the fourth time in an hour.
We’re laying out by the pool and Hayes keeps intentionally splashing us while simultaneously feigning innocence. He’s seventeen and going into his senior year of high school, so you would think he’s mature enough to know better, but no. Around Sybil especially, he’s a little shit.
“Are you talking to me, sister?” He pops up on the side of the pool deck, arms propped on the edge. “Sorry, I couldn’t hear you, there’s water in my ears.” He grins devilishly and shakes his head like he’s clearing his ears.
I can’t help but snort.
“Yes, I’m talking to you,” Sybil snaps, dropping her phone a fraction to glare at him.
The woman is addicted to her iPhone, but part of that is because she’s just as dialed in on social media as she is dialed in socially with Manhattan’s elite. She was bred to be a socialite and plays the part exceptionally well, posting beautifully curated content that garners a lot of attention for Laurence International’s charitable foundation. “You know what you’re doing, brother. Grow up. You’re not a child anymore so stop acting like one.”
“You’re right.” Hayes lifts himself from the pool and strides right for his sister. “I always appreciate your constructive criticism. Thank you.”
He leans over into an awkward side hug, dripping pool water all down the front of her designer sundress. She screeches and shoves him away, and he just laughs and tells us he’s going to see if Chandler wants to come swim before sauntering back into the house. Even though he’s nine years younger than Sybil and she’s taller than most women, he’s got at least fifty pounds of muscle on her and several inches. The kid shot up like a rocket shortly after I met him, partly because he spends an ungodly amount of time in the gym. He’s almost eighteen and I can imagine he’ll be a force as he grows into a man.
“I swear, it’s a miracle I haven’t killed him yet,” she growls. “If he wasn’t so important to Chandler, I probably would.”
I just grin at her because I think it’s funny and also because she has no idea how good she’s got it. I’d love to have a real sibling, not just cousins that I’ve only known for a few years. The three of them have a special bond and no matter how much they bring me into the fold, it’ll never be the same. We don’t share the same memories or upbringing.
But that’s okay. Because this is still better than anything I could’ve hoped for.
This is what I wanted.
What I choose.
It’s exactly why I’m here with them instead of with Ethan right now.
They are my people now.
My family.
