Page 25 of Anywhere

“You could say that. I mean, he’s been here since he was six, and I was five. We grew up together. His sister Fiona and my sister Belle are closer in age, so they kinda paired up, and Rhys and I paired up to hangout.”

There it was. It wasn’t the words Mari said. It was the look in her eyes and the slight blush across her cheeks. It screamed they were more than just friends.

We jogged down the steps to the front door and made our way outside, but I grabbed Mari's arm before we made it to the car.

“Tell me something. Are you in love with Rhys?”

Mari’s smile evaporated, and she looked away but not before I caught the sheen in her eyes.

“Mari, I don’t understand. If you’re in love with him, then why are you helping me?”

“I guess my poker face needs work.” I released her, and she leaned back against her car. “Fine, yes, you found out my not-so-secret secret. I’ve been in love with Rhys for as long as I can remember.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “And why? Because loving him doesn’t change how the Faction or the union pairing works.”

“Fuck, Mari. I don’t even know what to say. Do you hate me for coming here?”

She laughed, and the sound was bitter, but I didn’t get the feeling she was laughing at me.

“No, I don’t hate you. You didn’t ask for any of this any more than the rest of us. Is this excruciatingly difficult? Fuck yes.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to describe this to you. I’ve lived with him my whole life, and it’s part of the reason I moved overseas for so long. My heart wanted something I knew I’d never have. Even though I know I need to let go and move on…I can’t erase my feelings any more than the two of you can stop the connection from building.”

She shook herself like a duck shaking off water and grabbed the door handle. “Like I said, I’m nothing but a girl. I wasn’t the Adair chosen. Hurry up before he’s fucked his way through the whole pub.”

Once more, I was left speechless. Mari was in love with Rhys and clearly wanted a union with him. But, because she didn’t fit the mould, the two of them never could’ve contemplated it. I looked into her eyes and knew I wouldn’t be so stoic. In her shoes, I’d tell the world to go fuck itself. I would not drive the chosen person to be with the person I loved.

“Well, are you gettin’ in, or are you going to stand out there lookin’ like a wart on a frog’s arse all night?”

“You know, you kind of remind me of me,” I said as I slipped into the passenger side of the car.

“Are you tryin’ to insult me now?” she teased and laughed.

I took a moment to stare at her profile, and it hit me that we could’ve been siblings instead of just cousins. Her hair and eyes were the same colour, and we even had the same shaped face, though hers was more feminine.

She cranked the radio as we pulled out of the driveway, and I smiled as one of my favourite songs began playing. We easily fell into singing together. It wasn’t fair. I realized at that moment just how unfair this was, and if it ever got to the point where I could change laws, I was fucking changing the one that kept our Faction women so suppressed.

Mari tapped her fingers in time to the song on the radio, and in no time, we were pulling into a unique-looking pub that I could’ve sworn had once been a hobbit home. The round wooden door with the old-fashioned windows gave it a homey cottage vibe.

I opened my door and stopped. “Are you not coming in?”

Mari shook her head no. “I’m sorry, Rook, but I just can’t go in there.”

My face scrunched up as I took in her pain-filled eyes. “Mari…”

“No, don’t. I’m making my peace with what’s happening, but even I have my limits.” She wiped at the tear sliding down her cheek. “Please go. I need a few minutes alone.”

I stepped out of the car. But the window slid down, and she called my name. I leaned on the door, looking at her.

“I like you, cousin. I’m happy that if it was going to be anyone other than me with Rhys, that it’s you who was chosen.”

“I can’t wrap my head around why you’re helping me. I wouldn’t be this generous.”

“If not you, then who? It will never be me. It was never going to be me. At least with you, he has a chance to have something real, and I guess you’re kinda cool, but don’t let that go to your head. I will deny it if asked.”

She smiled, and I realized how pretty she was. Not in a creepy I-wanted-to-fuck-my-cousin way, but I couldn’t help wondering if Rhys had hoped that they could be together as well. I was torn by the mixed emotions this information brought, swirling to the surface.

“Thanks, Mari,” I said and closed the door.

I stayed where I was and watched the car zip out of the parking lot. It took a moment to sink in, but only one other car in the large gravel space. I slowly turned in a circle, and there were a good dozen horse-and-buggies and another area like a large pen with more horses standing around, but not a single car other than Rhys’. Well, I no longer had a ride, didn’t look like I could hitch one, and there was no way in hell I could remember how to get back to Injebreck to walk, so I’d better find a way to make this work.

I rolled my shoulders as I walked towards the front door, just as someone came out. The music was loud, and punched me in the face as the couple laughed and staggered by. They didn’t pay me any attention as I stepped inside and let the door close behind me.