“Dad.”She swallows.“He, uh, he said he spoke with someone.Someone who had delicate information about how to get away with arson.Said they’d be on the scene that night to help me cover my tracks, but only just,” she clarifies.Nibbling the edge of her thumb, she hesitates as if replaying the moment.“It was like, he wanted to hedge his bets, you know?So I did some research on what that could mean.With insurance fraud and criminal charges and, you know, just…the whole enchilada.”She sniffles.“And so, I, uh, I did it.I helped him.And then, I said I’d contact the insurance company for everyone.”
“But instead you used the auction money to pay cash,” I finish for her.Yeah, it’s official.I’m impressed as hell.She thought of everything except coming to us and being honest.I’d say she was stupid for it, but the truth is, if the roles were reversed, I don’t know what I would’ve done.
“Yes,” she whispers.“I used the auction money and paid cash.”Her chest heaves a sigh.“I didn’t want to betray any of you, I promise.”
Moving forward, Jagger sits beside our baby sister on the couch.He wraps his arms around her shoulders.Clearly, he came to the same conclusion I did at the entrance of Mercer Consulting.She isn’t the villain.Our father is.“We know, Cobes,” he murmurs.
Another shuddered breath escapes her.“I’m so sorry.”
“For what?”I argue.“You played your hand the best way you could.Considered every outcome, and who would be caught in the crosshairs.”
“We’re just sorry you felt like you had to do it alone instead of talking to us,” Jagger adds.
“I know,” she whispers.“I know I should’ve said something, but how do you do that, you know?How do you come clean on so many terrible things?”Her bottom lip wobbles.“You guys all put me on a pedestal.You act like I’m perfect, and most days it feels like I’m falling apart at the seams.”
“Hey.”Hawke moves closer and sits on Cobie’s opposite side.“Hey, it’s okay.”
“It’s not okay.I’m so sorry?—”
“You don’t need to apologize,” I interject.
Her finger brushes against her cheek, gathering the fallen tears painted across her blotchy skin.“Yes, I do.I’m going to pay you back, I swear.Every penny?—”
“Don’t worry about it,” Jagger consoles.
“Of course, I’m going to worry about it.I stole like fifty grand from people in this town?—”
“Does Tight Ass know about that?”Hawke questions.
She shakes her head.“I don’t, uh, I don’t think so.I made up a fake organization?—”
“I thought it was Mom’s organization,” I counter.
“I lied.”She grimaces.“If you look at the actual paperwork, there’s a typo.Not that it matters,” she mumbles.“It was pretty easy.I made up the fake organization.Filed some paperwork.Forged an ID or two.It’s not…it’s not a big deal.”
My brows lift.Not that big of a deal?The woman’s a fucking mastermind and she isn’t even enrolled in college yet.“Damn, Cobes.Maybe you’re a true Harden after all.”
She rolls her watery eyes.“Well, that’d be nice, since all I’ve ever wanted is to be part of this family.And I mean like, a real part.Not an afterthought or a mailed Christmas card.”
My chest squeezes.She thinks she’s an afterthought?The girl’s gotta be joking.She’s been the center of our world since the day she was born.Even after our father sent her away, she was always in our thoughts.Always remembered.Always treasured.Then again, since she’s been home, have we still been mourning her absence?In a way, I guess we have.Don’t get close on the off-chance Daddy Dearest sends her away.It’s been a worry in the back of my mind since the moment she reappeared on our doorstep.One I refuse to give another second of attention.
“You’re not an afterthought, Cobes,” Jagger replies, voicing my same sentiment.“Promise.”
“Really wish you would’ve come to us, though,” I add.“Would’ve saved everyone a big headache.”
“I know,” she breathes out.“I was just scared.Dad, he…he has more power in his pinky than I do in my entire body.I felt like I didn’t have any options.”
“Well, with how you handled everything, I think you proved everyone very, very wrong,” I announce.
“Yeah,” Hawke laughs.“You should’ve seen Dad’s face when we told him everything.He underestimated the hell out of you.”
Something shines in her pretty eyes.Pride, maybe?She rests her chin on her knees, but stays quiet, digesting Hawke’s words.
“And now, Titas can’t blackmail you anymore,” Jagger continues.“Not with all the dirt we have on him.”
“And if we need to pay him back for your dorm mess so he can’t hold it over your head anymore, we can look into that, too,” I add.
She wipes at her cheeks once more.“I would never ask any of you to do that.”
