Page 23 of Contrition

“Estrella, no. That’s not what we’re saying,” Zack protested.

“Sure sounds like it. Theo?”

I didn’t have the heart to lie to her anymore. “Yeah. Yeah, pretty much. But on my terms. I ruined it all. He didn’t do anything wrong, except choose me when he should have left me in the dust.”

“Nice. I’m not a human being with emotions, but instead a fucking toy for brothers to fight over. How fucking wonderful. Do I even get a say in any of this whatsoever?”

“Of course you do.”

The sound of her footsteps leading to the elevator forced me to look up. I hadn’t even known she was standing, let alone making a run for it. Zack called out to her, but she only shook her head as her finger jammed into the elevator button.

“Estrella,” I croaked. “Please, just…give us a chance. Give us a chance to make it up to you.”

She turned back towards us abruptly. “You know what the funny thing is? If I had known this all those years ago, I maybe would have even considered it. Because I loved Theo deeply. Like a true brother then, but I could have made that love transfer into something more. I could havetried. But now? Is it even worth it? How can I trust either of you ever again? To make me fall in love—to heal me—only to leave me in the dust again.”

“We’re s?—”

She looked at Zack directly. “I wanted children. I wanted a life with you. And you both took that from me. Without even thinking about me at all. Sorry isn’t going to fucking cut it.”

“We’ll show you. We’ll work for it. We’re never going anywhere again. I swear. Just…let us prove it to you. Some way. Somehow.”

Her head shook, forcing her curls to sweep over her shoulder. “I need to go to work.”

Zack begged next. “Please, baby. We’ll do anything.”

She paused as she turned to the elevator, waiting for it to open for her. I waited with a baited breath.

“Anything?” Her voice croaked.

“Anything.”

“Fuckinggrovellike your life depends on it then. Chase me. Make me feel actuallywanted. Because even though Theo fucked everything up—you’rethe one who still chose him, Zack.You’rethe one who was too much of a fucking coward to kick him to the curb and choose your so-calledsoulmate.” Her voice was thick with emotion as she took a deep breath. “If anything, Ishouldchoose him. Just to show you how it feels to be kicked to the curb and chosen second.”

My head hung in shame as the elevator doors opened, only for them to close and take her away from us.

Zack nudged my shoulder with his before he stood, refusing to let me bury myself in my thoughts. “You heard our girl. Get up. Get ready. We’re gonna chase her until she’s sick of us.Bothof us.”

ten

ESTRELLA

“You seem…so cool,” Hale started, stuttering on a breath as she began blending the dark eyeshadow into my crease. “Like, you’re a badass photographerandyou’re married to the lead singer of From Stars to Evolution?! Do you know how lucky and cool that makes you? Can I literallybeyou?”

I laughed as I peeked open the eye she wasn’t working on to take her in, only to laugh harder once I saw the bright red blush on her face. Paired with her shoulder-length, brown hair, it suited her—and the cinnamon roll personality only highlighted it. “I mean, after the fight I just had with them, I may let you have ‘em. They’re annoying and stupid.”

“No way! God, I already have to keep up with my own boys. Not to mention, while I love me some divorced-dad-rock, those men are definitely too old for me.” The hand doing my eyeshadow paused, and I giggled again at the outright call-out of their ages. “No offense! Age gap is cool and all. I’m just…not that into it. And like, ya know, they’re hot and all bu?—"

I placed my hand on her arm in a reassuring squeeze. “Hey, hey. It’s cool. They’re ancient as fuck. I’m surprised they can still squat without breaking their knees. No worries.”

Hale nodded. Yet, confusion hit me as I watched her blushed even harder out of nowhere. Dread settled in my stomach immediately when she peeked around me, and the sound of Zack’s voice only worsened it. “Oh, really now? You hear that, Theo? We areancient.”

Theo’s voice joined him. “Damn. That hurt, princess. You wound me.”

My shoulders slumped.

I was emotionally wrecked and tired.

Blowing up on men was generally a fun past-time of mine, but when I had to blow up on the men I apparently loved enough to even think about giving a second chance?

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