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“What about Christmas?” Jameson bit back. Fuck, it wasn’t just the sag of his shoulders, but the gravel in his voice that said he was hurting. This whole dumpster fire could have been avoided with a phone call. “Did you have Christmas on the calendar, sis?”
“I will not argue with you guys about this. I’m sorry to bail early, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I will not miss it for the sake of one holiday movie night.”
“What time’s your flight, baby?” I asked before anyone else could protest.
Pax grimaced as he checked his watch for the millionth time. “We’ve got just over an hour and a half until boarding.”
“Fuck,” El muttered, planting a kiss on my cheek. “I’m so sorry. Do I stay?”
I shook my head as her pleading eyes caught mine. “No, I got this. Nobody flies on Christmas—you should get through security fine.”
Nodding, tears springing to life in her eyes, she said, “We’ll talk?”
“We’ll talk,” I reassured, threading my fingers through her hair, and pulling her lips to mine in a desperate plea that this wasn’t goodbye. When we came up for air, she made a beeline for Pax, who already had their bags by the door. Everyone else was staring at me.
I assumed this was what it felt like to be a fish inside a tank and leaned back onto the couch. As the door slammed behind them, Rhyett cleared his throat.
“This… this isn’t like a casual hookup kind of thing.”
“It is not,” I confirmed.
Jameson didn’t look up as he asked, “When?”
“In Las?—”
“No. When did you catch feelings for our sister?”
Well, fuck it. I ran my tongue over my teeth, sucked down a breath, and began. “I thought it was just some kid crush I’d grow out of. I was… I think, seventeen, when I knew she would be something special. Eighteen, when I knew I was in love with her. But she was…too young.” I shook my head, raising my eyes from where they’d settled on my hands, unsure of whom to look at. Landing on Milo, I added, “And you trusted me to protect her.”
“Jesus Christ,” Jameson growled, barely audible as he palmed his face.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Rhyett asked, his voice soft but heavy.
“So, I wasn’t crazy,” Leighton said, more to herself than any of us. A dozen siblings, a dozen unique voices—and a dozen hearts I needed to mend, when all I wanted to do was run out that door after her. But I’d told her I had this. So, I’d handle it. It was long overdue, anyway.
“No, you weren’t crazy,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ve loved El since before I understood what it was to love a woman.”
“Answer my question. Please, Brod,” Rhyett asked again, as Brex came to settle into his lap and stroke her fingers over his jaw. For the first time, I was aware even Finn had wandered into the room, silently observing as he picked up Quinn. And just like that, I remembered exactly why she’d put this off. I wasn’t just chasing Elora for the rest of my life. I was committing to all of them, too.
With a defeated shrug, I said, “The pact, man.”
“The what?” he asked, quirking his head.
“The fucking pact!” I snapped, rising to my feet. “Fuck the pact, guys. I love you. I really do. But the love of my life just left for New York City, with a blizzard rolling in, and I should be with her. We should make these decisions together. Should have told her I’d follow her anywhere under the sun. That so long as I draw breath, my heart is with her.” I palmed my jaw, blinking back the burning at the bridge of my nose. “That’s what I was working up the courage to tell her. That I’d leave home, turn down tenure, find a job at a school in Manhattan. Follow her to the end of the fucking earth and back.” I brushed an angry hand over my short hair. “But we got swept up in each other again, and then Noel walked in?—”
“Sorry,” she grimaced before chugging her wine, but I couldn’t stop now that the words were all coming out.
“And now I’m facing down the Mistyvale Brady Bunch when all I want to do is tell her I love her. That I’d do anything for her and I’m so damn proud of how hard she’s worked. That I love you both, but if a stupid high school pact is more important than our friendship, I choose her. If that means I’m no longer welcome here, I understand. I’ll respect that. But I. Choose. Her.”
Teeth audibly grinding, Jameson glared at me before standing abruptly, crossing the room in a few aggressively long strides, throwing open the front door and slamming it behind him.
“I got him,” Kaia said softly, hustling to grab sandals and follow him outside. With that outburst fizzling away, I collapsed back onto my spot on the sofa as Noel pursued her in a rush, shutting the door at a much more acceptable volume than her future husband.
“I gotta be honest, B. I don’t even remember the pact,” Rhyett said, shaking his head. “I’m just…bummed you didn’t think you could come to me. All this time?” When I just nodded back at his question, he said, “Brod, you’re the best man I know. El is a lot. A lot of strength. A lot of opinions. A lot of control. If you love her after seeing all of that for the last thirty plus years…”
“Agreed,” Finn piped up as he humored a grinning, babbling Quinn, who was shaking his fist around by the thumb. “If our sister has to land somebody, I’m glad it’s you.”
Well, that brought an unexpected wave of warmth to my chest. I turned my attention to their parents, where Juniper had perched on the arm of Milo’s chair, her hand working the ends of his salt and pepper hair.
