“You’re right. So you two are free to do what you want, but I don’t know when I’m going to be okay with it.”
He heads out the door, slamming it forcefully behind him.
“West!” Aspen says, her voice cracking as tears stream down her face.
But he is long gone.
She looks at me then, with a tear stricken face.
Right now, I want to punch Weston straight in the jaw for making her cry. He may be her brother, but she is the love of my life. That will come first, always.
I drag her into my arms, letting her cry it out. Her chest shakes with silent sobs. My heart breaks for her and for my friendship. I don’t know if we will get it back. If maybe I ruined our family dynamic just as I’m starting to grow my own.
“He’ll calm down,” I say as I stroke the back of her hair, pushing her closer to me. Not entirely sure if I am saying that to her or to myself.
“He hates me.” The heaviness in her words breaks my heart for her. I’ve always been jealous of her family, how close they all are. I cannot imagine how scary this must be for her.
“No, baby, he doesn’t. He’s hurt and he’s mad, but he will come around. Give him a few days and then try talking to him. He loves you.”
She nods, her lack of words speaks volumes for a girl who always has a lot to say.
“The good news is, the Band-Aid is off, and the worst of it is over. It may be scary right now, and seem like a mess, but it will clear out.”
“We need to tell my parents before this happens again. This sucks,” she says, slowly pulling back.
“Today?” I’ll do it if she asks, but I think I’d rather get in a pin with an angry bull than tell Jack I knocked up his daughter out of wedlock today after dealing with his son.
She pulls back, her face twisted with horror. “I’m crazy but not insane. Let’s maybe wait twenty-four hours to process the current shit show and then we can go and tell them together.”
“Deal.” I pull back, my hands wrapping around her arms. “In twenty-four hours, the worst of it will be done, and we will have nothing but good things to look forward to.” My smile is gentle as I try to inch her back from the edge.
I leave out the part where we are still waiting on results that will tell us how our lives are going to end up.
Chapter 26
Aspen
We pull up to my parents’ house first thing in the morning. Rhett is supposed to work after this, assuming my father doesn’t put him in an early grave.
“Dreading this as much as me?” I ask, making light of the situation.
I spent the entirety of yesterday crashing out. There were many failed attempts of pulling myself together, so I just let myself cry. Get it out of my system so I could go into today with a clear head. We’re moving forward, and after today our slates will be clean.
“I’m not sure who I’m more scared of telling, your mom or your dad.” The look of utter terror on his face would be laughable if his concerns weren’t valid.
“Make sure she isn’t holding her rolling pin. You’ve got long legs so you should be able to outrun both of them.” I try to bite my smile back.
“Death by rolling pin would be rather emasculating.” He does a quick wag of his brows before pulling the keys out of the truck. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Such encouraging words.”
He scoffs and opens the door, then walks to mine and opens it up, and helps me out.
“How do you want to do this?” Rhett asks.
“Like I do the rest of my life, flying by the seat of my pants.” I give him a semi-sarcastic grin.
“Alright then, no plan. Got it,” he says, nodding with wide eyes.
