Page 47 of Match Made in the Maldives

And now it’s too late. I fucked it up.

“How’d you sleep?” Blake’s question catches me off-guard because that’s the kind of thing someone asks when they like you.

“Fine. As fine as a pull-out sofa can be, but…” I stretch, causing my spine to crack.

My mom spent her first evening in the hospital alone. Blake had left when the staff told him to, and he returned yesterday morning before I arrived. When the nurse told us visiting hours were over last night, I asked about overnight guests. He said yes,but hospital policy allowed only a single person to stay in the room.

My guess is that’s why Blake brought flowers today. He believes I’m playing some kind of game, trying to one-up him, when all I want is to make sure our mom is healthy.

“Such a fuckin’ suck-up,” he mutters, and his attention snags on something behind me. “Well, look at that. If it isn’t your preferred family.”

I turn, and relief floods me at the most breathtaking sight: Lou, hair partially pulled up and pointing in all directions, dark circles under her eyes, wearing sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt. She’s speed walking toward me, and the rest of the Moores have congregated halfway down the hall, watching us from afar.

“What are you doing?” I ask as she races into me, tying her arms around me. Breathing comes easier with her here.

“You okay?” she asks into my chest.

“Yeah. Better now.”

“Me too.”

We stand like that, absorbed in each other, and the rest of the world goes away for a bit. Just us, inhaling and exhaling, enjoying being close together again.

“How cute,” Blake says. “Oh, wait, I get it. You two arefucking.” At this, he laughs, the sound dripping with something dark and bitter.

I squeeze her tighter to me, wishing my biological brother would disappear.

“Can’t believe you took this long to get in her pants. You could do worse.”

“Blake.” I speak his name as a warning.

“This count as incest?”

I should ignore him. Let him say whatever toxic shit he wants to say and move on. But I won’t put up with him—especially not when Lou’s involved.

“What did you say?” I say through gritted teeth.

Blake raises his brows at me, all innocent and saccharine sweet. “Nothing. Kind of fucked up, though, don’t you think?”

“No,” Lou says, pulling away to stand between me and Blake. “The only thing that’s fucked up is how you treat someone as amazing and wonderful as Finn. He’s your own brother.”

“Well, I don’t know how you do it in your family, but I don’t really want to treat my brother the wayyoudo. He is an honorary member of your family, right?” Blake turns his attention to me. “Glad we didn’t have a sister. You might not have been able to help yourself.”

“You’re so busy being an absolute garbage person that you can’t wrap your head around this, can you?” Lou says, crossing her arms and jutting her chin out at Blake. “Have whatever perverted fantasies you’d like, but it’s not my fault or Finn’s or anyone else’s that you can’t get through your thick skull how biological families work, or that you couldn’t identify a loving, worthwhile relationship if it bit you on the ass.”

“She’s spunky.”

“Hi.” She waves at him. “No more talking to Finn. If you have something to say to him, you talk to me.”

“Lou.” I rest a hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to. You shouldn’t have to put up with him alone.” Her eyes search mine. “I’m here. We’re all here.”

“Yup,” Blake says. “Your adopted family showed up, and me and Mom are lower priority. Got it. Why’re you here, anyway?”

“I’m here for Mom, and that’s the only reason.” I straighten and step forward, taking on some of the confidence that Lou’sprojecting. “I’m talking to you right now because of Mom, and that is all that I or Luna will discuss with you. Got that?”

“Crystal clear. You got your second fam. Why would you need us?”

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