Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“Granted. It’s not like our friendship is anywhere close to resuscitation, anyway…”
“People need time, Alex. We have to be patient. And we cannot ignore our own needs in the process.”
I scratch at the stubble sprouting along my jaw—a devilish detail that forces me to admit I’m not doing okay either.
“What did our lawyers say?” I ask Oscar. “Any news?”
“They’re moving forward with the motion to dismiss and prepping a countersuit on our behalf,” he says, a smile spreading from ear to ear.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard so far,” I mutter. “At least there’s that.”
“Remember what the PI told us when we first put him on Melanie?”
I shoot him a sour look. “Don’t—”
“He said we need to be patient. Lo and behold, our patience is finally being rewarded.”
Shaking my head slowly, I get up and turn away from him. “For someone who mere seconds ago was freaking over a household bill, you’re so fucking zen all of a sudden.”
“My despair ebbs and flows.” He chuckles dryly. “I have my moments.”
I can’t help but laugh. At least he’s self-aware.
The front doorbell rings. My brother and I exchange curious glances.
“Are we expecting anyone?” I ask.
“No.”
By the time I reach the front door, I rifle through my memory—maybe one of us ordered something and forgot. But when I swing the door open, every thought screeches to a halt.
Makayla stands on the porch, wrapped in a camel-brown wool coat beside a suitcase. Her hair tumbles around her face, giving her a wild edge.
“Holy crap.” I yank her into a desperate hug, needing to know she’s real.
“Alex,” she whispers, hugging me back.
I can’t believe I have her in my arms again. It feels like a dream. I hold on as long as I can, until Oscar wanders over to see what’s taking so long.
“Who’s…” His voice fades as his eyes widen. “Kay…”
Finally, I ease back and absorb every inch of her, making sure I’m not imagining this.
“It’s good to see you again, Oscar,” she says, her voice soft and sweet.
He opens his arms. “Come here.”
She melts into his embrace in that sweet, signature way that always makes my chest expand and my breath hitch. I want to stroke her hair. I want to bury myself within her and never come out again. Just looking at her now reminds me how badly I’ve missed this marvelous creature.
“Is Kellan here?” Makayla asks.
She glances around, clearly searching for our third brother. I snatch up her bag—a pointless but chivalrous gesture meant to welcome her.
“Yes,” I say, forcing myself to move. I set her suitcase beside the couch and hurry to Kellan’s bedroom to deliver the unbelievable news. “Kellan! Kellan! Get up!”
“I told you I’m not getting up!” Kellan yells even before I enter his room.
I shove the door open, stride to the bed, yank the pillow off Kellan’s face, and toss it across the room. He sits up with a furious frown.
“What?!” he demands.
“She’s here,” I say, breathlessly watching the pain in his eyes melt into sheer excitement.
“Where?”
He leaps from the bed and beats me out into the hall before I can even answer.
By the time I return to the front room, Kellan has picked Makayla up off the ground and is spinning her around. She laughs and clutches at his shoulders for balance, her hair bouncing playfully around her face as Kellan swings her through the air.
“What are you doing here?” I ask when Kellan finally sets her down.
“It’s good to see you guys again,” she says, slowly inching away from us.
I don’t know what to make of this, but I take it one breath at a time. “How about some coffee?”
“Maybe later,” she says. “I need to tell you something. Can we sit?” She gestures to the sofa and sinks onto it.
“Of course,” Oscar replies.
I sit next to her, while my brothers settle in the two armchairs facing us from across the coffee table. The air thickens with a new tension. Unspoken expectations pulse between us, and I dread the disappointment that might follow.
Whatever brought her here, she’s in front of us—and that’s all that matters right now.
And she’s smiling. It’s all that matters, at least in this moment.
“I want to apologize for running out on you,” Makayla begins.
“No, no, no,” I hurry to say.
“No, really,” she insists, holding up a hand. “I should have stayed and talked to you about the whole thing. Instead, I took Melanie at her word and ran away. But in my defense, I thought I overheard you guys saying that you slept with her.”
“We did,” I answer before my brothers can stop me.
“But it was long ago,” Kellan interjects.
“I know that now,” she sighs, lowering her gaze. “Your past is yours and yours alone. I should’ve thought twice before holding it against you.”
I lean forward, beckoning her to meet my gaze. “Kay… it meant nothing, and it spiraled into something we couldn’t control, let alone fix. Melanie is wildly unpredictable, and back at the resort we had no idea how to handle her. We were afraid of losing you—and we did.”