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I wish I knew what she had told everyone. I don’t want to throw her under the bus, but I can’t keep lying either. “The first night anything happened was a just a kiss. The day you and Lilith got engaged.”
Con’s eyes widen with surprise. “It’s been going on for a year?” he yells.
“No, not really. Nothing happened after that kiss until your wedding. We slept together and said that it would be one night.” I run my hand through my hair. “And it remained a one-time thing until I moved back to the city. Then she came to me for help.”
“You took advantage of that, didn’t you?” he scoffs.
“No, the attraction and pull to each other was equally strong for both of us. We tried to fight it, tried to keep it platonic, but we couldn’t.”
“Why Claire though?”
“I don’t know. I’ve watched you and Levi with Lilith and Ivy growing into these amazing couples. Having partners in life, being happy and fulfilled. It just grew between us organically.”
“Jealousy doesn’t excuse the fact that you lied. You broke our code.”
“It’s not jealousy. I love that you guys are happy. I love Lilith and Ivy like sisters. I just didn’t know it was something I wanted until I had it. I didn’t know I had the drive to be in a conventional relationship.”
“I just keep coming around to the fact that you slept with my sister. My BABY sister. How did you think this was ever going to be okay?”
“I knew it wasn’t, but I love her. I am in love with her. If it comes down to choosing between you or her, I’m picking her. Every single time, I will pick her. I will pick her when she doesn’t think she’s worthy because she’s the single most worthy human being I have ever known. I will pick her when she doesn’t choose me because I don’t think I will ever, ever find someone else who fits me so perfectly.”
Con deflates at that proclamation. He looks to Levi, who is looking back forth between us, more relaxed than before but still ready to intervene if necessary. Con looks back at me with a look of resignation.
“I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but if that’s really how you feel. If you really love her enough to choose her over us, then I can’t begrudge you that.” He holds his fist out, and I bump it with my own. “But I swear to fucking God if you tie her up and slap her around with your kinky shit, I will beat you bloody.”
“Same,” Levi pipes in. “None of that kinky shit for Baby V.”
I don’t know how to respond to that because ‘too late’ seems like a bad thing to say at this juncture. “Do you guys want to know who’s been harassing her?” Changing the subject always works.
“Yes,” Con says, walking over to sit on the couch.
Levi pours us all some more whisky while I start going through all the details of what I’ve found. The person who contacted us to sell a story about Claire. About how Kent is always touching Claire inappropriately. The verbal harassment he specifically targets toward her. I tell them about the camera I have on Claire’s bag. I’m glad that she hasn’t moved it even though she knows I can see her. I’ve held onto that as a tiny seed of hope.
“So tonight, Avery is going to be found with a significant amount of cocaine. Kurt, the choreographer, will be with her.” I knock back the two fingers of whiskey Levi had poured for me.
“Karma is a bitch.” Con salutes me with his whiskey. “Cheers to protecting what’s ours.”
“I’m glad you two scary fucks are my friends,” Levi says with a shake of his head before tossing his whiskey back.
“So,” Con leans back casually against the couch, “how are you going to get my sister back?”
“I actually have a plan for that.” I mirror his relaxed position on the couch, loving the feeling of having my best friends back in my life with no secrets between us. I smirk as I start discussing my plan with them, taking their suggestions into account.
* * *
Every night I go to watch Claire dance. Sometimes she looks up at the balcony, and I swear I can feel her inside me. Her body looks strong, but her eyes have this dull look to them, like the fire has been extinguished from them.
Her movements are precise and clean. She never hesitates. She hits every leap, turn, and lift like it’s as easy as breathing.
Con filled me in on how hard she was pushing herself in the weeks leading up to the show, so I’m not surprised she’s doing everything so well. I do find it as concerning as he does that she was working so hard she was making herself sick. In our months together, that never happened.
Con and Victor have already formed a medical research and development team to begin looking into possible treatments for MS. None of us have ever been happier to have ridiculous amounts of money. We can fund massive amounts of research without breaking a sweat, especially with our resources pooled.
Tomorrow night is the charity gala. I’ve already personally dropped off a large six-figure donation for the endowment. I requested Claire’s table, but that I remain anonymous. After tomorrow night, she won’t have a doubt that regardless of how hard she pushes me away, I will always come right back for her.
