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“You didn’t fail me, Kieran. You’ve never failed me. You’ve always been the best big brother. No one truly knew how horrible he was, and I certainly didn’t tell you anything. I needed another outlet for my pain, and it helped at the time. You did nothing wrong.”
He’s breathing hard and shaking his head like he doesn’t believe a word I’m saying.
“I should have been there more. Forced myself to be part of the family so I could keep a better eye on you.”
Pressing my hands to his chest, I push him back until we’re facing each other. His eyes are so fucking sad, it makes my own chest ache.
I cup his cheeks in my palms and meet his gaze. “Kieran, it’s not your fault. It’s only his fault. And Mom’s fault. She was a good mom, but she protected him first before anything else. None of this is on you. Okay?”
He stares at me for several seconds, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows. “I hope you know how much I love you, Chloe. How special I think you are, and how proud I am of you.”
A lump forms in my throat. “I love you, too, Kieran. So much. And I’m sorry I didn’t push more to be part of your life. I let him walk all over me, and I feel like we missed out on so much time together.”
“I know. We have a lot of catching up to do, don’t we?” he asks.
I let go of his face and snuggle against his chest. “We do. And we will. We can’t change the past, but we can make the future exactly how we want it.”
He wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head. “Mind if I stay here and hang out with you for a while?”
My smile goes so wide it makes my cheeks hurt. “I’d love that. Wanna lie down with me and watch a movie?”
When I wiggle out of his hold and climb back into bed, I pat Bash’s side for him. He eyes it for a second before he rises and moves around to that side, then kicks off his shoes.
“Bash is going to hate me being in bed with you even though I’m your brother,” he says.
I nod. “Yep.”
Kieran grins. “So, should I get under the covers too? That would probably give him a heart attack.”
We both burst out laughing as my brother gets comfortable next to me.
“I wish you would let Bash give you the money to start your business.”
I glare at him. “Did he send you here to try to talk me into it?”
“Define ‘send me here.’”
Groaning, I roll my eyes. “I’m not taking his money. My father used money to try to control me, and even though Bash is nothing like him, I don’t want to take that chance. I’ll do it on my own eventually.”
“Let me give you the money, then.”
Letting out a huff, I turn and glare at him. “You’re no different than taking it from him. I’m not taking your money either. And don’t argue with me, or I’m kicking you out of our movie date.”
Kieran grumbles under his breath about me being a pain in the ass, but he doesn’t argue.
Just as the movie starts, I clear my throat. “Paisley is moving in with us in the next couple of days.”
He lets out a low grunt. “Super.”
Turning my head, I smile at him. “She’s not so bad.”
“If you say so.”
I rub the blanket between my fingers as I think of what to say next. “She had a rough life growing up. She had to learn how to take care of herself. It’s why she can be so prickly sometimes.”
His jaw tenses. “Rough? How?”
Laying my hand on his chest, I sigh. “Her story isn’t mine to tell. But if you want my opinion, I think all she needs is a good Daddy to love her and she’d flourish.”
