by Jade, Ashley
Yeah, but I didn’t want them to find out like this.
Cole laughs but there’s not an ounce of humor. “I’ve had a few concussions and therefore must be hallucinating, because I could have sworn you just said girlfriend.” His nostrils flare. “But there’s no way in fuck my little sister would ever date your pathetic, trifling ass.”
He yells the last part so loud he’s liable to wake the dead.
A breathless, bathrobe-clad Sawyer runs outside. “What the hell—” She spots Stone’s car and blanches. “Oh, shit.”
Oh, shit is right.
Jace’s jaw tics. “Tell me he’s lying, Bianca.”
I can’t.
Expelling a deep breath, I utter, “He’s not.”
Cole cups his ear. “I’m sorry, I must be hallucinating again, what?”
“He’s not lying,” I say, louder this time. “Stone and I are dating.”
Jace staggers back like I just sucker-punched him.
Cole turns to Sawyer. “Call an ambulance.”
She pales. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Bible Thumper.” He lunges for Stone’s car. “But he won’t be after I’m done with him.”
Sawyer and I quickly put ourselves between them.
“Feel free to leave anytime,” I urge Stone.
“Not until your psycho brothers calm down and I know you’re okay.”
That only makes Cole more furious and he lunges for him again. “I’ll show you psycho.”
“Stop it, Colton,” Sawyer says, her hands shoving his chest. “Fighting Stone won’t solve anything.”
“Maybe not,” he snarls. “But it will sure feel good.”
Before I can stop him, Stone gets out of his car. “You want to fight me again, Covington.” He slaps his chest in invitation. “Go right ahead. Kick my ass from here to Kingdom Come.” His eyes dart to me. “But it still won’t change the fact that I’m in love with your sister.”
My mouth drops open. “You love me?”
“Yeah.” He swallows hard. “Yeah, I do.”
Sawyer makes the sign of the cross and starts muttering what sounds like the Hail Mary prayer.
My head whirls. Stone loves me.
Cole’s eyes flick to me. “Please tell me this isn’t fucking happening.”
“How long?” Jace barks. “How long have you been lying to my goddamn face while sneaking around with trash?”
“Since Thanksgiving,” I whisper.
“A month,” Jace bites. “A fucking month you’ve been deceiving me.” He gestures to Cole and Sawyer. “Us.”
Sawyer rubs her temples. “Look, I know you two are angry, but Stone’s a good guy and he makes her happy—”
“How would you know?” Cole questions.
“I—uh.” She mutters a curse. “I’ve known about them for a little while.”
The betrayal on Cole’s face deepens. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“It’s not Sawyer’s fault,” I quickly chime in. “She kept urging me to come clean, but I made her promise not to say anything until I was ready. Hell, she didn’t even want to cover for us, but I—”
“You covered for them?” Cole grinds out, glaring at Sawyer. “For him?”
Oh, fuck. Wrong thing to say.
Guilt colors Sawyer’s rosy cheeks. “I know you’re upset, but Bianca’s my friend and she needed someone to talk to.”
He jabs his chest with his thumb. “I’m your fiancé.” Hurt twists his features. “Your fiancé who you swore you’d never lie to again.”
Sawyer’s face falls. She looks so helpless my heart coils.
“I’m sorry, Colton—”
“Save it. I don’t even want to be near you right now.” His eyes fall on me. “Either of you.”
With that, he treks up the driveway.
Sawyer’s lower lip wobbles. “I—um. I’m gonna go back inside.”
Stone juts his chin. “I’m gonna go, too.” He leans down like he wants to kiss me but pauses when he notices that Jace is still glaring daggers at him. “I’ll call you later.”
A minute later he peels out of our driveway.
I look at Jace, who’s gone silent.
“Say something.”
Yell at me. Demand I break up with him. Something.
He shrugs helplessly. “What the hell do you want me to say, Bianca?”
The sheer hurt etched in his features makes me want to keel over and die.
He starts walking away but stops abruptly.
“I really fucking miss her.”
I have no idea who he’s talking about. “Who?”
“My sister.” His eyes cut to mine. “The one who might lie to everyone else in her life but would never lie to me.”
With that, he stalks off.
I expected him to be angry…disappointed.
But I never expected him to look at me like I stabbed him in the back.
And I definitely never thought I’d break his trust.
Chapter 30
A soul as black as the night sky.
Lips as red as the blood she’s out for.
The girl who leaves them running scared.
She’s a beautiful nightmare.
I stare in awe at the words scrawled on the small piece of paper.
On one hand, I should be offended because Stone thinks my soul is black, but on the other?
It’s so hauntingly gorgeous it cuts straight into my heart.
I quickly pick up my phone.
It’s been three days since all hell broke loose, but we still talk every day at school. However, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss our alone time.
Especially after reading that.
He picks up on the second ring. “Hey you.”
“Hey.” I can’t help but smile. “So, I was doing laundry today and I found a little something you slipped into my jacket pocket the other night.”
“Huh?”
“The poem,” I remind him. “Jesus, Stone. I had no freaking idea you wrote poetry. It was perfect. A little dark and twisted…but beautiful.”
A beautiful nightmare.
“Oh…that.” He clears his throat. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Like it?” My heart pounds a steady tattoo against my ribs. “I love it.”
I rub the spot over the organ still beating wildly in my chest. I love him.
But I don’t want to tell him something so important over the phone.
I’d rather tell him how I feel face to face. When the moment is right.
“So,” he says, changing the subject. “Are things any better today?”
Nope. “About the same.”
He sighs. “They can’t forbid you to see me, you know. You’re eighteen.”
If only it were that simple. “They’re not forbidding me to see you.”
That would require they actually talk to me.
“So we’re not hanging out because you don’t want to,” he snaps. “Got it—”
“It’s not like that,” I tell him. “It’s just…complicated.”
They’re my family and I hate hurting them.
And as much as I care about Stone, seeing him without their approval feels like I’m committing treachery.
“I know how important they are to you, Bianca. Trust me, I get it. I guess I’m just hoping I’m important to you too.”
My heart twists. “You are.”
“Then come here for Christmas so I can see my girlfriend outside of school. We’re having a late-night dinner after my mom gets off work.” He snorts. “I’m in charge of cooking, but I promise I’ll try my best to make it edible.”
“Okay.” I highly doubt everything will be fine in two days, but I really want to see my boyfriend for the holidays. “I’ll be there.”
I just have to talk to my brothers, first.
* * *
I approach Cole first because he’s…well, the more approachable of the two.
“Sorry, I don’t deal with traitors,
” he greets me after I knock on his door.
I stifle my annoyance. “Can we talk? Please.”
Sulking, he gestures for me to come in. “I guess.”
I look around his bedroom. Sawyer isn’t here, but fortunately, her things still are. “Where Sawyer?”
His sulk deepens. “Work.”
There’s a slight edge to his tone.
“Cole.” I give him a look. “Sawyer didn’t lie to you because she wanted to. She lied because I begged her to. Hell, I pretty much guilted her into it.”
Pouting, he crosses his arms. “I know.”
“Then wh—”
“Because you didn’t tell me,” he barks. “I know I’m not the best brother and Liam was your favorite and you pretty much consider Jace your dad. I just wish…” His sentence trails off.
“You wish what?”
“I wish you felt comfortable enough to confide in me. Although that’s stupid, because it’s not like we were tight before your accident—probably because you were still harboring anger for the shitty way I treated Liam when he was alive.” He grips the back of his neck. “I don’t know. I guess I was hoping since you have amnesia we could press the reset button on our relationship and start over.”
His confession makes my heart squeeze. No matter how close I was to Liam or how close I am to Jace, Cole’s still my brother.
I give him a hopeful smile. “I see no reason we can’t still do that.”
He lifts his head a fraction. “Yeah?”
Nodding, I give him a smile. “Yeah.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Do we do the awkward hug thing now, or can we skip that?”
I feign disappointment. “Damn. I was kind of looking forward to it.”
Opening his arms wide, he sighs dramatically. “All right, fine. Bring it here.”
Laughing, I wrap my arms around him. “I might not remember much about our relationship before my accident. But, for what it’s worth, you’ve been a pretty great brother after.” I make a face. “A little overprotective—”
“A little?” he grunts. “I’m gonna have to up my game then. Call that punk over—”
“Cole,” I utter as we break apart. “Please don’t beat up my boyfriend.”
“Christ.” Scoffing, he pinches the bridge of his nose. “I still can’t believe you’re dating Stone DaSilva.”
“He makes me happy,” I whisper. “Really happy.”
Another scoff. “Yeah, well he better if he knows what’s good for him.”
My heart does a hopeful little dance. “Does this mean you approve?”
Cole scowls. “Approve? No.” Shrugging, he adds, “But fuck knows I’ve done my fair share of dumb shit, so I guess you’re entitled to do some dumb shit, too.”
Gee, thanks.
Given that’s the best I’m going to get out of him for now, I drop it.
However, there’s still one thing I want to fix.
“What about you and Sawyer? You guys aren’t going to break up over this, right?”
He looks horrified. “Break up? Fuck no. That’s not an option. I’m still mad that she kept it from me, but I know her heart was in the right place. It always is.” His gaze turns inward. “It’s just one of the many reasons I’m in love with her.”
That’s a relief.
Shooting him another smile, I close the door to his bedroom.
However, my relief is short-lived when I spot Dylan. “On a scale of one to ten how bad is his mood today?”
“About an eight.” She gives my shoulder a squeeze. “I keep reminding him that he’s being a stubborn ass though, so I’m sure he’ll come around…sooner or later.”
Yeah, but when? Jace hasn’t said a single word to me since the driveway incident.
“Right.”
“Just give him time.” Her nose crinkles. “Eventually he’ll thaw and talk to you.”
Unfortunately, I’m running out of time. Christmas is in two days.
Taking my chances, I knock on his bedroom door.
“What?” Jace barks from the other side.
“Can I come in?”
Silence.
“You can’t ignore me forever, you know.”
Nothing.
Chapter 31
“Stop being a dick to her, Jace,” I hear Dylan hiss from the hallway. “It’s Christmas for fuck’s sake and you just made her cry.”
“It’s not my fault,” Jace argues. “All I did was ask if she was lying when she complimented you on the ham you made. Given her stellar track record, it was a legitimate question.”
I wipe my tears away with a tissue. I’m not sure how much longer he’s planning on staying mad at me or making jabs at my expense, but I can’t take much more of this.
Dylan growls. “I swear to God, if you don’t man up and apologize right now, I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” Jace sneers.
“You know that thing I let you try last week—the thing you really liked? Well, it will be a cold day in hell before I ever let you try it again.”
Yeah, I definitely don’t want to know what thing she’s referring to.
Jace sighs. “Fine, I’ll apologize but it won’t change anything. I’m still pissed that she lied.”
“Jesus,” Dylan exclaims. “Get a grip. With everything she’s been through the last thing she needs is for you to turn your back on her because she made a mistake. Plus, you and I both know she only lied because regardless of her amnesia, she still adores the hell out of her big brother and didn’t want you to be upset with her.”
“Whatever,” he grumbles.
“Stop being so pigheaded and fix this,” Dylan urges. “Because the Jace I know and love would do anything for his family and admits when he fucked up.”
A moment later I hear footsteps trek down the stairs followed by a sharp knock on my door.
I hug my pillow to my chest. “What?”
“Can I come in?” Jace questions.
“I guess.”
Truth be told, I should ignore him like he ignored me, but unlike him, I know how much it hurts.
I do, however, turn my head and stick my nose in the air when he walks in. Take that, asshole.
He makes an irritated noise in his throat. “Seriously?”
I don’t warrant him with a response.
His sigh is weary and resigned as he walks around my room, picking up and putting down various objects on my dresser. “I never wanted a sister.”
Jesus. That’s just mean.
I glare at him, and he has the audacity to laugh. “Let me finish.”
“Fine. Unlike you, I’m willing to listen.”
“When Mom told me she was having a girl, I had a full-blown temper tantrum and cried for two days.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted brothers. I didn’t want to deal with a sibling I could never identify with.” He pins me with a look. “But the day Mom placed you in my arms, this intense sense of obligation came over me and I vowed right there and then that I would always protect you.” Scoffing, he shakes his head. “I didn’t know it back then, but God is a comedian because my baby sister turned out to be exactly like me—insanely stubborn and guarded, yet fiercely loyal to those she loves.” He meets my gaze. “Hell, it probably should have been us who were twins instead of Cole and Liam.”
My heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest.
I hate fighting with him, but even more than that, I hate knowing I broke his trust and destroyed our bond.
“I never meant to hurt you,” I whisper. “It kills me that I did.”
Hands in his pockets, he nods. “I know.”
I peer up at him. “Are you ever going to forgive me?”
He smirks. “Eventually.”
I throw my pillow at him. “Stubborn ass.”
He throws it back at me. “But just because I’m upset doesn’t mean I love you any less.”
“I love you too, shithead.”
Humor lights hi
s face. “Glad we got that squared away.”
He heads for the door, but I halt him.
As happy as I am that we talked, our conversation still leaves me unsettled and there’s something I really need him to know.
“Jace?”
“Yeah?”
“Stone isn’t his brother.”
The corner of his mouth curls and his stare turns glacial. “What makes you so sure?”
I tell him the truth.
“Because I wouldn’t be with him if he was.”
Chapter 32
“Look at you,” Stone declares as I walk up the stairs to his apartment. “No more crutches.”
“It’s a Christmas miracle.” I do a little twirl when I reach him. “I still have to take it easy, but I’m glad I don’t have to drag them around with me anymore.”
Bending down, Stone kisses my lips. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.” Palming his cheek, I pull him in for another kiss. “Merry Christmas.”
“You’re the best Christmas present ever,” he murmurs against my lips.
I gesture to the present I’m holding. “In that case, I guess you don’t want this, huh?”
I’m not sure what to make of the expression on his face. “You got me a gift?”
I bop him on the head with the box. “Of course, I did, silly.” Placing it in his hands, I utter, “Open it.”
“Right now?”
“Yes,” I all but squeal.
I can’t wait to see his face when he unwraps the autographed DVD of Bourne Identity.
“Holy shit.” His eyes widen. “Is that Matt Damon’s signature?”
I point to the other autograph next to it. “And the director’s.”
He wraps me up in a hug so tight it steals all the air from my lungs. “You’re amazing, you know that?” His voice drops a fraction. “I feel shitty about not getting you anything now.”
Well, this is awkward. Not because I’m upset that he didn’t get me a gift—truth be told I never expected him to given his financial situation and all—but I know how Stone is and I don’t want him to beat himself up about it.
“It’s totally okay—” I start to say, but he cuts me off.
“I’m kidding, Bourne.” He pulls a small box out of his pocket and hands it to me. “Of course I got you something.”
