Page 131 of The Scarab's Game

Scarlett’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “You slept with her, didn’t you?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Scarlett smacked my chest.

“I told you hands off!” she hissed.

Jenn put up a hand. “I’m a grown woman.”

“With a boyfriend!” Scarlett shot back.

“I broke up with Simon weeks ago,” Jenn countered.

The anger drained from Scarlett’s face, replaced by hurt. “You didn’t tell me?”

“He cheated on me,” Jenn admitted quietly.

“Why didn’t you…?”

Jenn sighed, her whole body deflating for a moment. “You knew he’d do something like that, and I didn’t want to hear it.”

“I wouldn’t have said anything like that,” Scarlett protested.

Few people stood up to Scarlett, but here was my woman, holding her ground. She was so strong—as if the events at the Casino and on the yacht hadn’t already proven that.

“You’ve kept so many secrets from me, Scar, but you never hid how you felt about the men I’ve dated. Maybe I should have listened, but…” Jenn turned to me, a gentle smile on her lips. “Maybe I had to kiss a lot of frogs on my way.”

Everything about Scarlett’s posture told me a lecture was forming.

Instead of letting her start, words tumbled out of my mouth, “And I’m in love with her.”

Stunned silence blanketed the jet.

Did I just say that?

“You’re what?” Jenn asked, a mix of surprise and something else—hopefulness?—tinging her words.

Wait. That strange feeling in my chest for the last few days? It was love. Real, deep, terrifying love. How long had I felt this way?

“You’re brilliant, talented, and caring,” I said, voicing all the things I’d never dared to admit. “Beautiful. You’ve always stood up for what you believe in.” I glanced at Scarlett before returning my focus to Jenn. “When we were kids, people teased us about our dad, but your friendship—your love—never wavered. How could anyonenotlove you?”

She raked her teeth across her bottom lip, conflict obvious in her eyes. She still had a long way to go in learning to trust me again, but I’d give her all the time she needed.

Scarlett’s attitude shifted again. It was a rare sight—my sister letting her emotions show. Normally, she was guarded, clenching her toes inside her shoes to help hide every emotion. But today? Her eyes darted between Jenn and me. “If you hurt her?—”

“I’ll break his knees for you.” Malcolm cleared his throat and took Scarlett’s hand. “But we need to sit if we’re ever going to leave.”

Scarlett blinked, no more words coming, and let Malcolm tow her into the forward cabin.

“Did you mean all that?” Jenn whispered.

I took her hand, placing it over my heart. “I promised to be honest, right?”

She nodded. “I love?—”

I pressed a finger against her lips. As wonderful as hearing the words back would have been, they didn’t matter. “I don’t need to hear it just because I said it.”

She moved my finger away, her touch gentle but firm. “But Ido.”

For a moment, I considered whisking her into the VIP cabin. Having her all to myself behind a locked door was tempting. Instead, I leaned in and kissed her, soft and slow, savoring the moment. But more importantly, not hiding anything from Scarlett or the rest of my friends.

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