“Yeah, and you have a lot of explaining to do about that,” I grit out.
“I know, Brett.” River rakes his hand over his hair. “I know.”
I glance at Jake. His forehead is wrinkled as he stares at Misty.
I meet his confused gaze. “Jake, I don't know how to tell you this, but… Misty hereisyour sister.”
His shock is palpable. “I heard her say that. River told me. When he came and got me.”
“It’s a long story,” I say, “and I think River should be the one to tell it. You know, since he betrayed us all twenty years ago.”
Sebastian comes forward. “Hey, Brett. Easy. Let’s just be happy Jake is here.”
“You think I’m not?” I shake my head. “But fuck… They let us mourn. Grieve. They let us believe he was fucking dead!”
“I’m with Seb,” Alex says. “Let’s take care of Misty and just be happy that Jake’s here. They’ll explain themselves. But we’re all in shock right now.”
Shock?
That’s what Alex thinks this is?
No.
Shock was the first five seconds when I saw Jake standing in the foyer with River—when my brain tried to reject it and accept it at the same time.
No, this isn’t shock.
This is betrayal. This is twenty years of grief rotting in my gut. This is fury so thick it burns behind my eyes because I loved him. I loved him beyond friendship, in a way I knew I’d have to take to my grave.
And seeing him now…
Knowing he still exists in this world…
That love has come hurtling back, cracking my fucking heart in two.
“I don’t need time to process,” I snap. “I need the fucking truth. I need to know why River has looked us in the eyes for the last twenty years and let us believe Jake was gone forever.”
Alex runs a hand through his hair, his jaw tight. “Brett, you’re not the only one who’s hurting.”
“I know that,” I shoot back.
Alex and Seb don’t know. Only Riv knows. Only Riv knows how much I loved Jake, and he hasn’t known for long.
“Jake…” Misty finally says.
“Yeah, I’m here.” Jake’s voice. “I don’t understand what’s going on, but if you’re truly my sister, I’m here for you. I promise. Everything will be okay.”
“Yeah,” Alex agrees. “Jake’s here, and whatever happened in the past, everything will be okay now.”
“I can’t just act like everything’s okay,” I mutter. “Because it’s not.”
And somewhere deep in my chest, something fractures all over again.
Especially when I see Sienna—my beautiful Sienna who I love and want to marry—in the distance.
EPISODE 204
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
