Page 69 of Crack the Ice

“Lana, I understand why you’re mad, but that’s a little uncalled for,” Cecy says, pushing further into me.

“No, you don’t get a say. You told me that this would never happen, the two of you. You lied to me.”

“No, I didn’t. When I said that, he and I were barely civil with each other. I thought I was doing the right thing by putting distance between us, by pretending there wasn’t anything here. But I’m tired of pretending. I’m tired of acting like every life dream of mine isn’t tied to him in some way.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?” Lana steps closer toward us, my hand moves from Cecy’s shoulders to her hips, and I squeeze, letting her know I’m here and she doesn’t have to tell them anything she doesn’t want to.

“I’m not ready to talk about it. We still have some things to work out first, and out of respect for him and the kids, I’d like to keep that between the two of us for now.”

“So you’re going to play house with each other, and then what? You get divorced when Lily turns eighteen?”

“No one said anything about getting married, Lana. I’m not marrying this woman for anything other than love. I will one day, but I’ve got to earn that one day first. Until then, she’s going to move in before the season starts so we can all get into a routine before I have to travel. Therefore, it’s a two-parent household.”

“Smart,” Kelsey says, nodding along.

Lana spins on her heel. “Smart?” she hisses. “Smart?! Kelsey, you can’t think this is a good idea.”

Kelsey stands from where she’s sitting at the island and comes to stand on my other side. “I honestly don’t know why you’re having such a hard time with this. They’ve loved each other for a long time.”

Lana’s jaw drops as she glares down the line of us.

“Take the two of them out of the picture, Sis.” Kelsey steps toward our youngest sibling. “This is what’s best for those kids. They need a consistent arrangement, not to be bouncing around the three of our houses every time someone leaves town. Could you imagine having to do that after losing mom?”

Lana’s shoulders fall from her ears, the fight bleeding out of her at the mention of our mom. I should have started there, I guess.

“I get that it’s best for the kids, Kelsey, but I had no idea there was anything here. And you’re acting like it’s common knowledge.”

“They’ve been running circles around each other since before I left for college. It may have been innocent at the start, but the number of times I found them lying in the backyard talking at two in the morning, you couldn’t have convinced me they weren’t in love.”

“They did that?”

All three of us nod. Then Sunny clears her throat, and all of our heads snap to hers. I completely forgot she was here. “Lana, I know it might sting to find out this way, but this is what’s best for Cade and Lily. You and I both know there’s no one better to step in and be there for them than these two. They’ve already been here, doing the same thing they did for you and each other after losing your mom. Cecy carried a lot of Mav’s pain during that time too, and she did it with a smile on her face because she does love him. She always has. And even though I’ve seen some of Mav’s less-than-desirable behavior where Cecy is concerned, I don’t know what she means when she said she thought she was doing the right thing, but they do. And if he’s willing to forgive whatever that was, and she’s willing to move forward, why are you angry?”

“I’m not, I’m… disappointed.”

Cecilia deflates at the word, and my oldest sister catches it.

“Lana, they’re adults. They’re doing the best they can for these kids. You don’t get to be disappointed over anything. That’s an extremely entitled mindset to have. They don’t owe any of us anything.”

I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Lana’s face this particular shade of red. It’s pinched together, and her eyes are laser-focused on Cecilia. I don’t fucking like it. Moving to stand in front of her again, blocking her from my sister’s anger, I watch as Lana swipes her keys off the counter and heads for the door.

“I won’t be in this week. Take it out of my vacation,” she says seconds before the door slams behind her, and Cecy flinches at the sound.

I turn quickly, cradling her face in my hands, noting the tears gathering behind her eyes. “Fuck,” I whisper, resting my forehead against hers. “Are you okay?”

She gently nods her head, but I don’t know if I believe it.

“Sorry you guys had to find out this way. That wasn’t the plan,” she croaks out as she peeks around to meet my sister and Savannah’s gaze.

Kelsey snorts, and Sunny’s head shakes, but they’re both smiling. “Honestly, Sunny and I were days away from starting a bet over when you’d get your heads out of your asses.”

“Mierda,”⁠* Cecy laughs. The weightlessness of the sound loosens every bit of the noose wrapped around my heart, worried that this interaction would have sent her running. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Thank you,” she says as she looks up at me.

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for this woman, but this moment solidifies it. We’re a team, a real fucking good one, and it’s time the world sees that.

* shit