AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thanks.”
“But you also know you have to tell Everett, right? Because I can’t keep this to myself, if for no other reason than Aiden and Frannie deserve to know they have a cousin.”
I sit back and smile. “Hadn’t thought about that, either. Owen has always wanted cousins. Or siblings. Or both.”
She nods, smiling. “This won’t be easy, but—"
“I’m going to tell him, Lily. I just don’t know how he’ll take the news. His job is scary, too.”
“Those are excuses, and you know it. He’s a good person, Aria. Down to his bones. And this is a huge thing to keep from him. It’s not fair to only be thinking about yourself when this affects so many people.”
I hate that she’s right. “Okay, but I still need time to figure this out.”
She nods. “Okay.”
We finish brunch and say our goodbyes. The cold is bracing when I step outside again, and I’m hit with the realization that I’m keeping Owen from his family. When I was growing up, I had my older sister, Jessica. But he has me and my parents and that’s it.
I have to get over this. I have to tell Everett sooner rather than later. It’s only right.
Once I’m in my car and the heater has made my hands stop shaking, I text Lily. “I’m going to tell him tonight.”
-
16
Everett
I was a little surprised when Cormac texted plans to meet up for drinks Sunday night, but he offered to pay and I wasn’t going to turn that down. We meet at Barlow’s, a hole in the wall joint near the edge of town. I’m not sure how he even knows about Barlow’s. It’s not his usual kind of place.
They painted the storefront glass to keep wandering eyes from prying at the patrons, and a few pool tables haunt the first part of the building. But I see him at the bar and make my way there, grabbing the seat next to him. “Hey, man.”
“Hey, buddy,” he says gently. It’s the same tone he uses with Aiden or Frannie when they’re upset. A little strange.
We put in our orders—a coke and a cheeseburger for him, a Manhattan and onion rings for me. The music is late eighties hair bands, and there’s football on the TVs. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon, all things considered.
“I would have thought Beau and Beckett would join us.”
He smiles with pity in his eyes. “Thought it might be better just the two of us. How are you doing?”
I shrug and sigh, but my eyes keep catching on the players streaking by the cameras in yellow and red. The color combination of the football uniforms is irritating—keeps making me think a fire is nearby. “Uh, I’m good. I think I’m missing work, oddly enough.”
He chuckles. “It is easier to think about work sometimes. That way, we can ignore our real lives.”
I nod, not really listening. Dammit, those players are getting to me. “Uh, excuse me.”
The bartender flicks his gaze up as a response.
“Can we watch a different game?”
He shrugs, then changes the channel to some ice skating competition.
Not exactly what I had in mind, but there’s no mistaking ice for fire, so I’m more present when Cormac speaks. “Are you here with me this time?”
I smile. “Yeah. Sorry. The football game distracted me.”
“Another distraction? Work wasn’t enough?”
“Huh?”
