Page 67 of Bite Your Tongue

I step out from between them. “Ryder screwed up when he didn’t tell me he knew the video existed, sure. But can’t you see that he kept that secret only to protect you and me?”

I smile up at Ryder before looking at my brother again.

“I’m asking you to not only forgive Ryder, but to also let it go with Rowan.” I wring my hands. “I’m trying to move on, and retaliating now will only keep me in the darkest time of my life.” I reach for my brother’s hand, squeezing it. “Let me move on, Smith. I need this. I really,reallyneed this.”

Smith and I have never been the touchy-feely siblings who are overly affectionate. So, when he stares at me for a second before pulling me against him for a hug, I only cry harder.

“I’m so sorry that happened to you, Sails,” he murmurs. “I am so, so fucking sorry.”

Sniffling, I nod into his chest. “Thank you.”

After a moment, he releases me and looks at Ryder. “I’m still fucking pissed at you for not telling me and for seeing my sister behind my back instead of being up front and honest with me like a man.” His expression softens. “But you’re my best friend and like a brother to me. And I trust you with my sister. So, I forgive you, okay?”

Ryder throws his arm around Smith and smacks his back. “Thanks, Smitty. I’m sorry.” He leans back, grinning. “But you have to admit, when your veins and shit pop out, you’re fucking scary, dude.”

Smith’s eyes narrow, even though he’s amused.

Ryder pats his back again. “I’m jokin’. I’m jokin’.”

“Okay, now that that’s all over with, can we sit back down?” I say, waving my hand toward the table. “I’m hungry, and I need more coffee.”

As the guys nod, heading back to their seats, I catch Gemma smirking at me.

“Why, Sails? Long night was it—”

I poke my fingertip into her side—and not playfully either.

“You’re going to give my brother a stroke, so cut the shit, asshole.”

“He sort of deserves it,” she utters through a laugh. “You have to admit it.”

“Fucker bought me a car, bitch,” I toss back. “I’m not trying to have it taken away. My old one didn’t have heated seats.”

“Well, if he takes it away, good thing you’re in South Carolina,” she says teasingly. “Instead of the arctic shit that Maine has for, like … seven months of the year, it’s warm out there.”

She’s right. The weather in Charleston sure is better and a bit more predictable than Maine. That’s all true. And there are gorgeous places to go for walks and hikes. But it’s not home. And truthfully, I miss New England. I miss being able to jump in the car and drive a few hours to meet my mom for coffee or lunch.

“True that,” I utter, nodding and taking a swig from my coffee. “This coffee is gross,” I whisper at Gemma, and she nods quickly, agreeing with me. “It tastes like burned ass.”

“Have you tasted burned ass?” Ryder says teasingly.

I’m just excited he’s finally joking around a bit. Since we got to this restaurant, he’s been quieter than normal.

“Yeah, all the time,” I deadpan, taking another sip from the nasty coffee because if I don’t, I’ll turn into the Hulk from low caffeine intake.

When our food arrives, we all eat. We talk and laugh, and absolutely nothing seems awkward. Now that my brother knows everything, it feels like a weight has slowly been lifted from my shoulders.

I do, however, need to learn how to navigate a long-distance relationship with someone I’ve only just confessed my love to.

That ought to be a walk in the park.

“Ifeel like an asshole, you know,” I say to Saylor, keeping my arms looped around her body and my hands cupped at the bottom of her back. “I haven’t even been your boyfriend for twenty-four hours, and I’m already ditching you to fly back to Maine while you have a long-ass drive back home.”

I wonder if she caught that I called myself her boyfriend, but when her lips bashfully tug upward, I know she did.

“Pretty Boy, did you just say you’re my boyfriend?” she says playfully. “That’s a little presumptuous, don’t you think?”

“Nah, I don’t think so,” I drawl. “Why would it be, Brat?”

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