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Her words feel muddy in my mind. They’re ruling it an accident? “What about the twins?”
Annalisa and Aiden glance at each other again. “We decided to take that secret to our graves. Coming forward won’t do anything now that Luke’s free, anyway,” Annalisa says, and I can feel the weight behind her words, the significance in their meaning. She’s forgiven us for keeping that secret, forgiven Aiden for not wanting to turn the twins in, and is promising to protect them as well.
“Everyone promised not to say anything,” Aiden adds.
“I won’t say anything either,” I vow. I never would’ve, but I promise it anyway. I speak it into existence because it’s important to me for him to know I’m with him, I have his back, I’ll protect the twins. I’ll take this secret to my grave; my friends will as well.
Maybe we really have won. Luke’s free. The twins won’t be a media sensation or face penalties for keeping the accident a secret. Tony’s dead. Annalisa’s happy. My friends are safe. Hell, even Kaitlyn and I are on speaking terms. Is everything finally normal? Is the craziness and secrets and lies and drama finally over?
Aiden and I haven’t glanced away from each other, our eyes saying everything we wish we could. Annalisa clears her throat. “I’ll give you guys some time. I’ll be back later, Amelia—er—Thea.”
Then she’s gone, leaving me alone with Aiden. He sits in the chair beside my bed, not once breaking his gaze from me. “While I’m mad at you for what you did, and wish with every fiber in my being that I was there with you, I can’t say I’m all that surprised.”
The memories of taking his phone and locking him and the boys in my room make my cheeks heat. I should apologize, but I’m not sorry. I’d do it again. I’d do anything to keep my friends safe, to prevent them from being in harm’s way because of me. So no, I don’t feel that bad for keeping him out of the fight with Tony, but I do feel bad I had to lie to him to do so.
Aiden leans closer to me. “I cannot believe you Ethan Moored me, though! Really, Thea?” A smile tugs at his lips, and I let one pull on mine as well. It feels like that was forever ago.
“I locked him in the closet to take his phone, though. You were in a bedroom. Totally different.”
A chuckle escapes him as he shakes his head, but then his expression grows deadly serious. “When I found the two of you, lying there unmoving, it nearly killed me. I thought I was too late.”
Aiden really was there. It wasn’t an imaginary Aiden my mind had conjured up to comfort me. “How were you there? How did you get out of my room? How did you find me?”
He grabs my hand, holding it in his. His hand is warm and strong and my hand feels right at home.
He lifts a shoulder in a shrug. “I broke your door down as soon as you left the driveway,” he says calmly, like it’s no big deal. That was a sturdy wood door. It shouldn’t have been so easy to break.
“And how did you know where I was?” He was there. He came for me.
His hold on my hand tightens. “At Mason’s, when you were arguing with Mason and Noah about the picture he took of you, you left your phone on the table. You were so dead set on not getting anyone involved, and I don’t know, I just couldn’t let anything happen to you. I turned the Track My Friends on your phone on so that I would know where you were if anything happened. I also copied down Agent Dylan’s number.”
I’m speechless. I can’t even be mad that he tracked my phone because he saved me from bleeding out by finding me in time. “Did you know I wouldn’t stick to the plan?”
He shakes his head. “I wasn’t going to stick to the plan. I was going to drive you to the police station and call Agent Dylan anyway. Noah and Mason were acting like vigilantes, trying to rush into something without a solid plan, acting like they were invincible. You just strayed from the plan before I had a chance to. I really should’ve seen it coming; you never listen to me, and you gave in to Mason and Noah way too quickly.” He smiles at that last part, not mad about it like he probably should be. “I called Agent Dylan as soon as we got out of your bedroom, and then hopped in my car to track you. Agent Dylan also has your phone tracked, by the way. I only got there a few moments before he and the others did.”
“It was stupid, so stupid of me, to rush to meet Tony.” I just wanted my life back. I was fooling myself into thinking that if I agreed to meet him instead of waiting for him to find me, I was taking control back. “I was turning around but he had set up a spike strip.”
His hand squeezes mine. “I know, I know, it’s okay.” His other hand comes up to rest on my cheek, and I lean in to his touch.
“You saved my life, you know,” I whisper, and he tenses.
“No, no, I really didn’t. I should’ve done a better job protecting you. But I didn’t save your life, you saved your own life.”
His words make my stomach tighten. Deep down I never thought I’d be strong enough to do it on my own, never thought I’d find the strength to pull the trigger when it really mattered. “I used the necklace you gave me for Christmas. If I didn’t have that, I don’t think I would’ve been able to get out of there. Plus, you knew where I was; you got there before I lost too much blood.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay.” Aiden’s voice is soft, his eyes shining with emotion. “I love you, Thea. You’re the strongest, most beautiful, and most badass person I know.”
I laugh at that. Even though I don’t particularly feel strong, beautiful, or badass, I know Aiden means every word. “I love you, too, Aiden.”
“Knock, knock,” comes a voice, and I’m shocked when Agent Dylan walks into my room. “How are you feeling?” he asks, setting a little stuffed teddy bear down on one of the counters beside a vase of pink lilies.
I shift, not knowing how exactly to feel at seeing him. On the one hand, he sent me here on purpose, to be near Annalisa, and he didn’t answer my calls. But on the other, he came through when I needed him. He answered Aiden’s call, and showed up when I needed him.
“I’ve been better, but I’ve been worse. You know, the usual.”
Aiden stands from the chair, giving my hand one last squeeze before letting it go. “I’ll be back a bit later, okay, Thea?”
I nod and he kisses me, quickly, chastely, and not for as long as I want.
Once he’s out of the room, Agent Dylan is at my side. He gestures to the chair Aiden just vacated. “May I?”
“Did you send me here as bait?” I blurt, skipping any pleasantries. The curiosity has been killing me. “Did you put me with Anna in case Tony sought her out and ran into me too? I know people have been putting pressure on you to find him after the last time he got away.”
Agent Dylan pauses, hovering over the seat, his eyebrow quirked, before slowly settling into the chair.
“That’s an interesting theory.”
“Is it true?”
Agent Dylan sighs. “You’re right that there was pressure on us to find him. But we didn’t put you here as bait. As we learned more about Tony, we found out about his daughter. We figured it would be easier to watch over the both of you if you were together. We don’t like using kids as bait for dangerous men like Tony or we would’ve done this a long time ago.”
The wind is knocked out of my sails as I process what he’s saying. I guess it would make sense, not having to divide assets and agents if we were near each other.
“Plus, we didn’t know you would become friends,” Agent Dylan says, “and we certainly didn’t think this whole thing would end with two of our charges taking on Tony by themselves. But you guys did great. Barely needed our help.”
I shift, holding up the hand with the IV in it to make my point. “Well, we could’ve used some help.”
I drop my hand. He seems somber but still raises an amused eyebrow. “And we would’ve given it if you had called us. If Aiden hadn’t called us we wouldn’t have gotten there in time. You and Annalisa would’ve been a lot worse off if we hadn’t gotten you in that ambulance.”
I grumble in agreement since I can’t really argue with that. I didn’t call him when I should’ve. I didn’t give him enough time to get there or give him the chance to come up with his own plan, one that probably would’ve avoided everything we went through. But we can’t change any of that, and what matters is that he came through, that they saved Annalisa, that they got me help before I bled out.
His face grows serious and his body stiffens. “But I’m sorry we weren’t on top of it. I’m sorry we failed you. I saw your missed calls as I was rounding up people to find you, and you didn’t answer when I called back. You really had me worried. We should’ve been there.”
I scan his face and register the genuine remorse he seems to feel. It’s not his fault, it’s really my own. Everything was going to shit around me and I assumed that included him as well.
“It’s not your fault. Thank you for showing up when you did.”
We sit together, both of us silent, lost in our own thoughts. He honestly does seem to hate the way things played out, and I wish I had put more faith in him.
“So is he really dead?” My voice comes out in a whisper.
I’ve been in shock about everything this whole time, thinking those words but too afraid to voice them.
“He really is. You don’t need to worry, ever again.”
Something I’ve been holding on to in my chest cracks with those words. I saw the bullets lodge in his chest, Mom said she identified the body, and Agent Dylan is confirming it, so it must be true. He’s dead. For real. But do I really never need to worry again? I remember the other phone call I had that day and am going to voice my thoughts but hesitate. Can I trust Agent Dylan if I tell him?
He notices and leans forward, his analytical gaze roaming my face. “What aren’t you telling me?”
My breath hitches, but then I let go of the hesitation and tell him about Andrew and how he called me, about his role in sending Tony to me, about how he tried to kill me on New Year’s Eve. He listens attentively, and promises me he’ll take care of it, and this time I believe him.
He stands and buttons his top suit-jacket button. “I’ll get out of here and let you rest. But we’ve started the process to release you and your mother from witness protection. Your mom just has to sign some stuff and you’re officially Thea Kennedy again.”
My eyes tear up, but I force myself not to cry. My voice comes out high and cracks when I thank him. He nods once and strides from the room, leaving me staring at him in wonder.
I’m Thea Kennedy.
Two weeks after I’m discharged from the hospital with some meds and care instructions, Mom lets me invite my friends over. They all visited me in the hospital, and Charlotte, Julian, and Chase were given the full story. They were surprised, but eventually understood that I’m still me, just with a different name that they’re still getting used to, and now I’m allowed to be in pictures.
I’m relieved they’re not mad at me for keeping such a big secret from them, but they were understanding and knew what I was running from and why it was so important to keep my secret a secret, especially after seeing me in the hospital.
My friends crowd around a board game on the floor, where we have been for hours, arguing over unofficial rules. It’s weird to be myself around them, but it also seems completely normal. I’m glad everything is out in the open and I can finally just be with the people I was most worried I’d hurt. We’re all here together: Annalisa, Charlotte, Mason, Noah, Chase, Julian, and Aiden. I have love for all of them. I basically stumbled upon them by accident, but that accident was probably the best thing to happen to me.
The television is on in the background and I hear someone say, “Ew, I hate Siren of the Heart, who would even go to their concert?”
I look up from my cards. “Hey, they’re, like, my favorite band, don’t trash them.”
An incredibly loud gasp comes from Noah as his head slowly turns to look at me.
“You’re a fan of Siren of the Heart? How did I not know this?”
“Um, yes. They’re my absolute favorite!”
“Me. Too.” Noah stresses each word. “Did we just find our thing?”
I feel a slow smile spread across my face. “You know what, Noah. I think we just did.”
“Ha!” he exclaims. “In your face Mason. I have a thing with Thea! Hey, do you think if we tell them you were in witness protection they’ll write a song about us? Or invite us up on stage?” Noah asks, arguing with everyone else when they say that would never work.
It took us a while, but it looks like we finally found our thing. I hear the front door open and soon Brian is standing in my living room with Mom.
“Hey, guys, you think we can get some time with Mason and Thea?” Brian asks, standing with Mom, his arm around her back. She looks happy, her features relaxed, her shoulders not holding their usual tension.
Mason’s told everyone about his parents’ impending divorce, about how Natalia has reclaimed their house and kicked Brian out, and how Brian has basically moved in here. It’s weird seeing him around every day, in the kitchen for breakfast, at the table for dinner, in the living room in front of the television with Mom at night, acting like it’s always been this way, like he’s right at home in our lives. It’s weirder still when he offers to help me with the calculus homework I’ve missed and am trying to catch up on, when he picks up my favorite smoothie for me “just because” on his way here from work, when he reminds me to take my medication on time. It’s like he cares, like he wants to be my . . . father? Or at least a father figure? I’m not sure, and it’s weird to even think about, but I can’t truly say that I hate it. Mason’s always gone on about his dad being a good father, and in the short time we’ve been living together, and the times he visited me at the hospital, and even before all of this with Aiden and his brothers, I can’t disagree with Mason. Brian may have done something terrible with the affair and how he treated Natalia, but I’m learning not everything is always as it seems; not everything is all the way right and all the way wrong. Sometimes there’s a middle ground.
Everyone but me and Mason gets up to collect their stuff. “I’ll call you later,” Aiden says to me before giving me a quick kiss. To Mason he says, “I’ll see you at home.”
It’s still weird for Aiden to say it, and I’m not sure that he’ll ever get used to it, but after everything we went through, Aiden decided to sell his house and take Natalia up on her offer to move in with her and Mason. Apparently, this is something she’s talked to him about multiple times, and after making sure Mason and the twins were okay with it, Aiden took her up on the offer. I know he likes to appear strong and like he always has his shit together, but I know the relief of not having to worry about bills and money and all things adulting is a huge weight off his shoulders. He gets to just be Aiden now, though he is still filing for custody of his brothers.
He and Mason do their handshake thing and Aiden heads to the front door with everyone else.
Noah walks backward to the door, mouthing to Mason, “I have a thing with Thea,”then very maturely sticks his tongue out at him before disappearing from sight.
Mom leaves Brian’s side to walk my friends out and close the front door, and Mason and I awkwardly stare at Brian, then at each other.
“Why don’t you guys sit on the couch? We just want to have a talk with you,” Brian says.
Mason gently helps me off the floor, conscious of my healing wounds, and we sit beside each other on the couch, our backs straight, looking at Brian, who’s sitting on the couch across from us.
When Mason confronted his father about the affair, he was pissed at him, but now they’re on speaking terms. Their relationship isn’t perfect, and Mason is rightfully upset about how Brian treated his mother, but Mason hasn’t written him off completely. It’ll take time for them to heal, to get back to where they were before, and Mason needs time to process, to accept what’s happened and fully forgive Brian for hurting Natalia and lying to the both of them. But for now, they’re able to be in the same room as each other, to speak civilly to each other, to acknowledge that this may be the new normal.
Mom comes back from closing the front door and joins Brian on the couch across from us, and they both just sit there, staring at us with these weird little smiles.
Mason leans over to me, speaking in a hushed tone. “You think this is creepy, too, right?”
“Totally,” I answer, and Mom and Brian share a look. It’s almost gross how happy they look, how domestic and at home they seem together. They cuddle up on that very couch before bed every night and watch their show.
Brian clears his throat. “There’s really no easy way to say this—” he starts, and Mom exclaims, “I’m pregnant!”
The ground drops out from under me and Mason’s frozen beside me.
“No,” I say after picking my jaw up off the floor. “No. I saw the pregnancy test. It said you weren’t—it said Not Pregnant.”
Mom looks guilty, and it’s then I notice she has her hand on her stomach. She’s done that a lot lately, hasn’t she? “I wanted to tell you, but with all our fighting and then your recovery, I never found a good time, and then I didn’t want to stress you out.”
