Page 4 of That Last Secret

“Because the last two people I want to be tied up by are my brothers,” Emiline answers.

My brain is reeling, and I suddenly feel light-headed.

I stare down at my cards, thinking about what Emiline just said. I’m not entirely naive. She’s obviously not a child anymore. But twenty-one? When did that happen? I mean, I hang out with Thomas, Marc, and Oliver often. She has always had her own life with her own friends. It’s not like I would have known this because she doesn’t hang out with us.

Peyton is still reading cards, but it’s drowned out as I look from my cards to Emiline and back. Thankfully, no one at the table catches on, but now that I see her, I can’t stop staring. I’m captivated by her radiant smile and how her eyes light up as she laughs with her friends.

What the hell is wrong with me?

How have I never noticed any of this before tonight?

I drown the rest of my whiskey and look back at her again. She’s still laughing with everyone and most definitely doesn’t notice that my eyes are on her.

She’s… beautiful.

I already knew that, but now, it feels different.

Way different.

That short back and forth with Emiline just flipped a switch in my brain. I’m seeing her in a new light, and I don’t particularly care for the consequences that might come with it if I’m honest.

I’m now noticing how her light blue eyes sparkle when she laughs, causing a small crinkle around them. And the way her wavy, blonde hair cascades down her back, and when the breeze blows in through the windows, it flows effortlessly.

And how her plush, pink lips move with every word out of her mouth. If she was anyone else, I’d want to see them wrapped around my—

“I’m not picking anyone,” Peyton says, interrupting my thoughts.Thank God. “You all told me who laid down what cards. It’s not fair for me to choose now.”

“Come on.” I stand, throwing my hands in the air. My reaction is over the top, but I’m aggravated by how my brain works through this revelation from just moments ago and because I hate losing games. “I totally won that shit.Just the tipis the perfect fill in the blank.”

“Would you give it up already?” Emiline huffs, her voice grating my ears. It’s annoying the shit out of me that I’m evenhearingher differently. “Just the tip is never perfect. In any aspect of life.”

I grind my molars together and look toward Thomas and Marc. “I swear to God, please stop. How the fuck did you allow her to grow up?”

My reaction is insanely irrational.

I have no reason to feel this way about this newfound perception.

It’s fine, right?

After this trip, I’ll go back to looking at her the way I did before.

“I’m allowed to do whatever I want.” Emiline stands, snapping at me. “I’m a grown adult, whether you like it or not.”

“I don’t like it,” I sneer at her, moving to close the gap between the two of us and bringing my face to hers. The scent of honey and vanilla engulfs my senses, only making the turmoil inside build more. “I really don’t fucking like it,” I whisper, only for her to hear.

“We’ve accepted it.” I hear Thomas say. “You can too.”

Avery and Gigi both say something, but it goes in one ear and out the other because I can only focus on Emiline. The way she stares at me with such intensity. The way she refuses to pull away or back down from this fight.

Until she does.

She pulls away, and I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

I think I’m as torn as I am because I don’t want her to be another temptation added to my list.

She’s off limits.

Her brothers have told me that from the day we met, and I assured them they had nothing to worry about. Especially because I never really saw her around much. It was always in passing or when she was watching Thomas’ son for a quick interaction. Nothing more. I promised myself that I would honor their wishes, and there hasn’t been a single time when I thought about wanting her or saw her in a different light.

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