“It’s been a few months of back and forth and a few months of... well, that,” I said, waving at Zack’s phone still on the counter.
“What about before that?”
“Aiden refused to touch me and never crossed the line. I pushed him into this.”
Rook shook his head. “That’s not actually how this works, Evie. At least not that I’ve experienced. When did you start liking her?” he asked Aiden.
I tried to respond, but Aiden cut me off.
“When I met her.”
My jaw dropped as I turned to look up at him. “That was years ago.”
He kept his eyes on Rook, and I could feel the tension aroundme. I knew there had been some feelings there for a while, but I didn’t realize he hadalwaysliked me.
“Yeah,” Rook said, blowing out a hard breath. “That’s more accurate.”
He grabbed the counter, leaning over and taking another deep breath. “Fuck,” he said.
“You kind of want to punch me in the face, don’t you?” Aiden asked.
“Yeah.” Rook’s chest grew as he took a deep breath. “I do.”
“You can. I understand and deserve it.”
“Please don’t,” I said. “I literally blackmailed him into even starting this.”
Rook’s mouth dropped open, his eyes wide as he looked from me to Aiden, and back to me.
“Youblackmailedhim into a relationship with you?”
“Technically.”
“How?” Rook said. “And if it has anything to do with a sex tape, then keep the detailsveryminimal.”
“I made him kiss me and took a picture. I told him I would show it to you if he didn’t... continue and do what I wanted.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it was a hard fucking choice for you, Aiden.”
Aiden gave a small laugh, but I smacked him.
“Choosing her will never be a hard choice, regardless of the consequences.”
“That’s my problem,” Rook replied.
“Aiden has been your best friend for years,” I said. “You can’t honestly think he’s such a terrible person he can’t be with me.”
“I know Aiden can be a terrible personbecauseI’ve been friends with him for years. I also know you can be a terrible person, but I wasn’t expecting you to blackmail him into a relationship. Whichmeans he didn’t want to cross the line with you, but because you forced his handbycreating proof he crossed the line. Honestly, now I’m wondering if I should be mad at him for getting with my sister, or mad at my sister for forcing my best friend into this. If the tables were turned, I would kill him. Hell, I’m about to kill Zack for the video he took. Aiden didn’t want to piss me off, but I’m damn sure he didn’t hate what happened. You’re a damn mind fuck, Evie. I feel sorry for you, Aiden.”
“Does that mean you’re okay with this?” I asked.
“Fuck no. You’re my sister, the only fucking blood relative I have and care about. I want an even better life for you than we have, and I hate that you would be sucked into this life more. But then again, you are apparently made for it. Then I have you, Aiden, who runs this entire thing with me, and now I know your loyalty is not going to be with the group anymore. If I tell you to get the fuck out, she will follow, and if she decides to get mad and leave, you will follow. Either way, I lose you both. The only other option is if I tell you to not be together, and I’ll have to deal with two mopey dumbasses walking around here bothering me constantly.”
“You would leave for Regan,” I said. “She would leave for you.”
“Which is exactly why I understand the lengths you both would go.”
“That only leaves one option, then,” I said, stepping back against Aiden. “You’re going to have to be okay with this if you want either one of us to stay.”
