Page 131 of That Last Secret

“I’d like to make a toast,”Thomas announces to the table, tapping the butter knife on the side of his glass.

We all direct our attention to him, and a smile stretches across my face.

“I want to start off by thanking everyone for coming out tonight to celebrate my one and only baby sister for her graduation. Although you’re not a baby anymore, you will always be to me.” He laughs. “I don’t know what going through the accelerated program you went through was like, but from the outside looking in, I could tell it was a lot for you.”

I do my best to fight off the frown my face wants to morph into.

Because he has no idea.

“I’ve always been so proud of you, Emiline. I’ve been lucky enough to watch you grow up and become the woman you are today. I was there when you took your first steps and remember it like it was yesterday. Today, I witnessed you take the most important steps of all. The ones where you cross a stage to accept your diploma as a nursing school graduate.”

Thomas looks down at his glass, swirling the amber liquid around as he blinks back his emotions.

“It’s so hard to talk about this without becoming emotional. And I’m not an emotional guy,” he scoffs. “But I hope you know that if Dad was here today, he’d be so insanely proud of who you’ve become and your career choice. I know Mom couldn’t make it because of the storms and her flights being canceled from overseas, but you know she’s so proud of you, too.”

I wipe the tear that falls down my cheek.

I scan the table, seeing that I’m surrounded by every single person I care about. The people who have made me who I am today. The people who stayed by my side through it all, even when I had to go missing just to study.

My eyes land on Logan, who’s looking at me with a lopsided grin.

I’m not sure how to read that expression.

The man who has flipped my entire world upside down in the best way. From the moment he learned the deepest parts of me I hid from the world, he didn’t leave. He stayed. He shouldered them with him.

Why does he look so off right now?

“So if everyone can raise a glass,” Thomas continues, and I turn my attention to my brother. “A toast to Emiline. You did it. I can’t wait to see all you do with this new career.”

“Cheers,” the group says in unison.

My eyes fall back on Logan, who places his glass down and leaves the table.

I don’t have a chance to follow him because the girls start talking.

“Now you can come back to our weekly Taco Tuesday nights,” Avery says first.

“I just have to study for another few days.” I laugh. “I have my board exam coming up. Once I pass that, I’mofficiallya free girl.”

Peyton waves her hand. “You’re going to crush it.”

Thomas, Marc, and Oliver all stand to follow Logan to wherever he went. I’m assuming the bar in the other room.

Avery watches them move before turning her head toward me. “Are you planning to tell your brothers tonight about you guys?”

“Keep your voice down,” I whisper.

“Tonight would be a good night to do it,” Macey adds.

I had the same thought. But the way he was looking at me before, and how he just got up and left the table after Thomas gave his speech, leaves me with an uneasy feeling in my gut.

Something is different with him.

“I was thinking about it. But tomorrow is Mackenzie’s birthday party. I don’t want it to be even more awkward tomorrow and have everyone fighting with each other over us. Plus, I’m not even going to be there. The guys will be up in arms with each other, and I can’t even defend us.”

“That’s valid,” Avery says.

“Understandable,” Peyton adds.

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