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"Was there anything else you boys wanted to discuss?" my father asks, and Sawyer shakes his head before picking up his cutlery again.
"No, that was everything. We're more than happy to play the political part if that's what you guys want to do, but only so much as turning up for the things that you need us to turn up for. The rest of our lives are going to happen as you guys swore they would be before we moved here." My father nods and starts to eat again. I do the same and we end up talking about football while my mom sits there quietly, barely touching her plate.
I hate that she's upset, or disappointed, but I also won't give up my life for her. In this respect at least. I would die for her. I would die for any of my family, but that isn't what she's asking us right now. She's asking me to live miserably for the rest of my life, to try and further our name. And that just isn't something that I'm willing to do.
Maybe if I'd never met Briar and experienced the joy of what finding your person could be like, then maybe I would have been more open to it, but knowing what I know now, there is no way that I'll go back to where I was before, and there's no way that I will play into these silly games.
We finish eating and end up making plans for New Year’s, which obviously consists of a party at the Kensington house.
I think that's how we've celebrated the new year for the last five years, so it makes sense that this is what they want to do again this year. And considering the concessions that my father made today and the fact that they're not going to fight us anymore, we don't argue with them about their plans.
When we leave the house I feel lighter than I have in days. I’m just excited to get back to the house, to speak to the others and tell them everything that happened. To be able to see my girl.
"That was easier than I thought it was gonna be," Sawyer says, frowning as he climbs in the car.
I hop into the driver's seat and start the engine. "You look worried," I say to him before pulling out of the driveway. He nods, glancing back at the house.
"It was almost too easy, don't you think?"
* * *
After having this morning with our parents, we get back to find Briar and Cole cozied up on the couch, watching a movie.
Rather than interrupting their time together, we grab leashes and take the dogs out for a walk. By the time we’re done, Travis is back from seeing Katy, but I know better than to ask any questions when Briar is around because Travis doesn't like anybody to know about his little sister.
Even if it is the girl that he's obviously very much in love with.
Briar heads upstairs for a nap, leaving the four of us alone, and we end up sitting around the kitchen island sipping beers and shooting the shit. We fill them in on the conversation with our parents from this morning, and Travis lets us know that Katy is at least okay and doing well at boarding school.
Sawyer sits up, puts his beer down, and looks at the three of us before asking, "So how is this thing with Briar going to work? Because I'm more than happy to share, but you motherfuckers need to work out what it is that you want."
I can't help but laugh at his outburst. I had no idea that he was even thinking along those lines again. I know that we haven't discussed anything with Briar and she's still hanging out with all of us, but since the engagement, everything has kind of taken a pause.
He doesn't get any response from anyone so he continues to talk. "New Year's is coming up and I'm not willing to go through another new year without one of us by her side. I'd rather it be all of us, but if none of you guys are willing to step up, I'm more than happy to fill that role. Because I'm not prepared to let her go. No matter what any of you say."
I lift my bottle in the air and tilt it toward him. I second everything he just said. Cole lets out a breath as he scrubs a hand down his face. I know he enjoyed their day together earlier. It's exactly why I made sure that Sawyer didn't interrupt them. Especially since it's the first time they've been together, just the two of them, since Thanksgiving. I know that things have been tense between them. Thankfully, it seems like they've worked through at least some of their stuff. He takes a sip of his beer and nods.
"I'm in, I'm also not willing to give her up. But we really do need to make sure that this shit gets sorted with my dad."
All three of us turn to look at Travis, who downs the rest of his beer then shrugs before slamming the bottle down. "I’m not in a position where I get to do anything. So if you guys want to share her, I won’t stand in your way." He pushes his stool back, the scraping on the floor screeching around us before he heads upstairs, his footsteps clomping on the wooden steps as he goes. Hellion disappears with him.
"Well, that went about as well as expected," Sawyer says
"What do you expect with his dad still breathing down his neck about everything?" Cole pipes up. "His pops might have been your out, might have been around the last week or so to try and keep Chase at bay, but he saw Katy today, which will have been a stark reminder of why exactly it is that he does everything he does for Chase. We all know he does what he's told and stays in line to keep that little girl safe, and I'm sure Briar would understand everything a lot more if we told her about Katy."
"She absolutely would, especially considering Iris, but it also has to be Travis's decision to tell her, and we both know he is not going to let that secret out anytime soon. Not telling her is just one more thing she'll hold against us once she eventually finds out," I respond as I run a hand through my hair.
I hate how twisted all of this is. I'm not sure when life got so complicated, but I'm sure it was never meant to be like this. Things are supposed to be easy and simple.
Sawyer jumps up to his feet and finishes his drink. "Well, I'm not going to waste any more time talking with you guys. I'm heading upstairs to my girl. Let me know if you need anything. Otherwise, peace out. I'll see you guys in the morning." He flips us the peace sign before running up the stairs. I hear when he knocks on Briar's door, then the murmur of their voices before the door shuts again, closing them off from us.
I let out a deep breath. "You really think this could work? The three of us sharing, having Travis being on the outside?"
Cole shakes his head. "Not at all. He's obviously as in love with her as the rest of us are, even if nobody will really admit it. It will tear him apart to see us with her, but I also don't want to give her up."
I nod in agreement because I feel the same. I don't want to hurt Travis. He's been my brother since the day we met, but I also don't want to let go of her. She is the one spot of sunshine that is constantly available in my life right now, and I'm not willing to give that up for anybody.
"What are you going to do about your dad?" I ask him, and he smiles wide.
