We cross the porch and descend the steps. The night air is cool against my overheated skin, and I breathe it in deeply, trying to clear my head. Marshall stays close as we walk down the path to the car, his presence solid and reassuring beside me.
I hit the unlock button and the car chirps. Marshall opens the driver’s door for me, then walks around to the passengerside. I slide behind the wheel, my hands shaking slightly as I grip the leather.
When Marshall gets into the passenger seat, I turn the key and the engine purrs to life. The dashboard lights illuminate my stepbrother’s face, casting shadows that make his jaw look even harder than usual. He’s staring straight ahead, his hands clenched into fists on his thighs.
I put the car in reverse and back out of the driveway. Neither of us speaks as I navigate down the dark road, away from the Ashford villa, away from Blaine and Vanessa and their fucked-up antics.
15
Gabriel
I kill the engine, and we sit in darkness. The silence that filled the car during the drive from the Ashford villa presses down on us now, thick and suffocating. Marshall hasn’t moved, his fists still clenched on his thighs. He’s been staring through the windshield for the past twenty minutes with a death glare that could crack glass. I grip the steering wheel and try to figure out why he looks like he wants to punch something.
The dashboard lights go dark when I pull the key from the ignition. The sudden blackness makes everything feel more oppressive. I can hear Marshall breathing beside me, each exhale controlled and measured.
I pop my door open first. The dome light flickers on, casting harsh shadows across Marshall’s face. He doesn’t look at me, just shoves his door open and climbs out, stalking toward the porch.
I hurry to catch up with him, my shoes crunching on the gravel. “Marshall.”
He doesn’t respond, just keeps walking.
“Marshall, are you okay?”
Still nothing. He reaches the porch steps and takes them two at a time. I’m right behind him, my heart starting to pound. He’s going to walk inside and disappear into his room, and Iwon’t see him until morning, and whatever this is will fester overnight and become something worse.
I can’t let that happen, so I reach out and put my hand on his shoulder, gripping the solid muscle through his shirt. “Marshall, wait.”
He stops, and for a second he doesn’t move. Then he spins to face me, and the look in his eyes stops my breath.
There’s anger there, but beneath it is something rawer. Something that looks like pain.
“I can’t do this, Gabriel.”
My hand drops from his shoulder. “Do what?”
“This,” he waves his hand between us. “I can’t be your stepbrother, acting like I don’t care when you’re being… propositioned.”
I blink at him. “Propositioned?”
His eyes flash. “I heard your conversation with Blaine.”
“And?”
He takes a step closer. “And are you going to get back together with him?”
“What? Of course not! Marshall, who the fuck do you think I am?”
“You’ve been with him before.” His voice is flat, but I can hear the hurt underneath. “How do I know you’re not going to run back to him, now that his wife gave you her blessing?”
“I’m not, okay?” The words burst out of me. “I’m not going to do that.”
Marshall’s shoulders relax slightly, but his eyes are still stormy. I study his face, trying to understand what’s happeninghere. He’s angry that I might go back to Blaine, I get that. But this feels like more than just brotherly concern.
“What else is wrong?” I ask.
He looks away, his jaw working. When he speaks, his voice is low. “It doesn’t matter that you’re not going to go back to Blaine.”
“What do you mean it doesn’t matter?”
