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Pulling on the scrubs, I hear August and Ethan yelling. The bathroom door mutes their voices enough that I can't make out what they are saying. No doubt, Ethan is insisting on coming with us, and August is telling him hell no. All I know is that if Ethan is truly my brother, which for some reason, I believe deep down in my gut that he is, the two of them are going to need to bury the hatchet.
When I open the door, the room falls silent before August says, "It looks like everyone's coming."
August
Eleven
FromthemomentImet Gianna, I knew things would never be the same. All it took was one touch, and I was hooked. I wouldn't say it was love at first sight, but I knew she was different. I knew she was not only something I wanted, but something I needed. But there is no way I could have guessed that choosing her would take me on this ride. It’s raw, uncharted, insane, and currently completely unhinged, yet somehow, she's managing it all with grace. Apart from her slight freak-out in my hospital room earlier today, she has remained composed, no doubt for Elio's sake, but that type of strength and resolve shows maturity beyond her years.
So I'm not surprised that she wastes no time focusing all her energy on Elio when we get home. She has reason to believe that he is not her biological brother, yet she loves him anyway. I'm not saying I wouldn't feel the same way if the roles were reversed. However, knowing that she is choosing to stay by Elio's side regardless of how hard it might be for her to become a mom at such a young age is powerful.
Gianna’s age initially shocked me, not because of the age gap itself, but her maturity. Of course, the older we get, the less of an issue it will be for society, but on a personal level, I didn't know if a relationship with her could even be a possibility. Most girls her age don't have the emotional stability or growth that she has to be ready for the things I want. Walking away from Gianna would have been one of my biggest mistakes, and while staying almost cost me my life, I have no regrets. I'd do it again if it led me to this moment. Her in my house, making it feel like home.
"August, can you point me in the direction of the guest bedrooms so that Elio can pick one out?"
Usually, I would show them myself, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't fatigued. Making my way to the sofa, I call out, "They're all in the opposite wing of the master." I point toward the hallway off my office.
"There are three rooms down that corridor. If the two of you want, take a walk with Gianna to see where you'll be sleeping."
When everyone leaves the room, I pull out my phone and send a text to the LPN I lined up prior to leaving the hospital to let her know that I'm home and she can stop by. I'm not an idiot. I know I should have stayed at the hospital, but there is no way I could have stayed there without Gianna.
I'm just settling on the couch when Ethan and Vivian walk back in. They are both taking in the place and appear to be impressed. I know the house is impressive. What's not to love about a sprawling cabin situated on the side of a mountain overlooking ridge upon ridge of trees with not another home in sight. But Ethan grew up in my world, and this is not what we are used to. Our houses were traditional in well-established old money neighborhoods with furniture meant to be looked at, unused, and staff meant to be seen, not heard.
This is not something someone with my pedigree would typically buy, and I think he's surprised. I have no clue what Vivian thinks. I don't know her, and I most certainly haven't discussed her with Gianna. If her childhood was as sordid as Gianna’s, it doesn't show, but then again, I never would have guessed Gianna’s was as rough as I now know it was.
"August, do you want me to get you something from the kitchen? A drink, maybe?" There's a nervous energy to the tone of Vivian's voice. While she hasn't had to endure the same trauma that Gianna has just gone through, I can tell it has her feeling unsettled.
"That would be great. There should be some water bottles in the refrigerator. I had the place stocked Saturday before everything hit the fan. Please feel free to make yourself at home."
As she makes her way to the kitchen, Ethan heads toward the wet bar in the corner of the living room.
"I didn't say you could make yourself at home asshole."
Ethan turns to me with a smirk that has ‘checkmate’ written all over it. He's had this self-important swagger since I woke up, which I assume is because he believes being Gianna’s half-brother wipes the slate clean. Too bad it doesn't fucking work like that. Gianna has yet to return from the guest wing, which I assume means she's taking her time getting Elio settled in.
Ethan is sauntering back over to the couch with two tumblers of whiskey in hand. He hands me one before taking a seat opposite me. I accept the drink even though I have no plans on drinking it. I’m sure whiskey is the last thing I need to consume right now.
"August, look, I know shit between us recently has been ugly. I'm not going to bullshit you and try to make excuses about how I didn't want to fuck with you, because I did. You were always the perfect son, the one Robert constantly compared me to, and I apparently could never measure up. Your family never missed a sporting event, a Sunday church service, or an award ceremony. Seriously, your mom volunteered every chance she got to be present at school, even in college. While you saw it as annoying, I was envious. My family was never like that. Robert never came to anything. I was his puppet, only brought out when he had reason to show me off. Now I know that's because he wasn't ever my dad. So, when you lost your mind over Gianna that night at the club, I was done playing nice and—"
I cut him off. He's not going to try and pass this off like he hasn't been backstabbing me for years.
"Ethan, Carson told me the two of you have been fucking for years, so don't give me some bullshit lie that this is a recent development, and you haven't had your claws in my back since high school."
His eyebrows shoot up like he wasn't expecting me to know that. "I never fucked Carson, that was bullshit to get under your skin. However, I did let her suck my cock a few times over the past month, but I never fucked her. Carson has wanted to fuck for years, but she wasn't my type, and fucking her wasn't worth it. Not to mention I think we both knew she swung for the other team. I'm aware that I don't have the best moral compass regarding women, but I wasn't going to fuck my friend's girlfriend. Like I was trying to say, she has been after me for years and hit me up when she got back in town. I turned her down. That's how I knew she was back in town before you because she called me for a booty call. The night she showed up at the club was all me. I was trying to fuck up your shot at landing Gianna. I didn't start taking blow jobs until after that night, and I had a reason for allowing it. After you left the club that night, we got a drink at the bar, and she started mouthing off how she couldn't wait to be done with you and how soon it would all pay off.”
He pauses to take a long pull from his whiskey, and as he does, I continue dissecting his body language. I’ve known Ethan for years, and I can tell when he’s bending the truth or outright lying. When he stalls like he is now, that’s how I know he’s not bullshitting. Ethan is smooth as hell when it comes to lying. Hell, part of being a media mogul’s son is personifying what sells, whether that’s who you are or not. Therein lies the problem. At some point, you start believing your own lies, and they become your reality. Right now, he’s uncomfortable, but if everything he says is true, he has every right to be. My focus is and will be Gianna, but I’m not blind to the fact that Ethan, too, just found out his biological dad was murdered.
Leaning forward, he rests his elbows on his knees, drink in hand, before continuing. “I'm not going to lie. I wanted in on whatever scheme she was hatching. I was tired of seeing you get everything, so I used her. The more I flirted, the more information she spilled, and that night after she blew me in the Uber on the way home, she said, ‘If you help me take down August, I'll let you in on a little secret.’ Of course, my interest was piqued and—"
He stops talking when he sees Gianna enter the room. When he looks at her, I see empathy in his expression. Even though I hate it, I know it means he cares about her.
"Is Elio asleep?" Vivian chimes in. I almost forgot she was even here. She's been so quiet.
"Yes, I rubbed his head for about ten minutes until he passed out. This is all so overwhelming. I don't know what to believe, how to feel, or what to do. I feel so utterly lost."
She takes a seat on a barstool at the kitchen island, and it makes me wish I wasn't injured and weak because I want to walk over there and comfort her, but I also don't want to get up.
"Why don't you go take a shower? Try to unwind and refresh." Ethan's idea is not bad.
