Page 83 of Wreck Me

Fuck. These bastards weren’t gonna let me off the hook easily, but I was really hoping to skip this shit.

“Uhh,” I start, pausing and scratching my nails against the back of my neck. “Started a bit before that. We hooked up once, and I didn’t know who he was. As soon as I did, I panicked and went into cleanup mode. I fought it as long as I could but he’s a persistent fucker.”

“Sounds exactly like what you need, you stubborn asshole,” Liam says.

I chuckle, thinking about how stubborn and stupid I’ve been and how Finn has taken every punch I’ve thrown. He never gave up on me, always so goddamn confident in us.Thank fuck.

“Yeah, he is,” I say with a smile. “I’m in love with him.”

“Daaaamn. I never thought I’d see the day. When do we get to meet him?” Dallas asks.

“I’ll set something up, but you fuckers need to chill out. He’s an only child, not used to this big family shit. His family is really rough around the edges. I don’t want to air their issues, but he just ended his relationship with them, and all he’s got is me. The dynamic of our sibling shit is gonna be new for him and I don’t want you to scare him off.”

“We’ll be on our best behavior. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Like fuck I don’t.

We spend the next few hours sitting in the old distilleryjust us five, talking about life—Sawyer transitioning into being a dad, his plans for getting Ivy pregnant with baby number two, Dallas’ ideas for proposing to Blaire and give her the wedding of her dreams, and how Liam and Hannah are settling into wedded bliss, as if they weren’t already living it before they even got married.

“I’m going to take Reid up on his offer to rent the studio apartment above Rogue,” Kinsey announces, four sets of eyes narrowing in on her. It’s silent for a moment, and I wait for Sawyer and Dallas to jump down her throat. But I don’t want them to shatter her hopes. She’s a big girl and can make smart decisions.

“I’m for it.”

Sawyer’s head spins in my direction so fast I almost suggest he see a chiropractor after we leave here.

“You what?”

“I think it’s a good idea. She’s not moving to Timbuktu. She’s moving across town, into a loft apartment above, what I would argue, is one of the safer places for her to be. It’s Aspen Ridge, you Neanderthal. What’s going to happen to her? With Reid downstairs and me right down the street? She needs freedom, and she’s not getting that at Dad and Mom’s house. You do remember we’ve all trained her to defend herself, right? She could probably kick all our asses if she needed to.” I told her I’d have her back, and I’m pulling through on that now.

Kinsey beams at me, and it makes me relax slightly, even if I’m bracing myself for Sawyer’s wrath.

“Are you fucking insane?” Sawyer stands abruptly, and reflexively, so do I. He’s in my face a moment later.

“I’m thinking pretty clear, brother, and I’m choosing Kinsey right now. She’s got this.”

“Like fuck she does. She’s barely twenty-two. We’resupposed to be a united front to keep her safe. After everything we’ve been through with Ivy and Blaire. No.”

“She will be! She’ll be safe!”

I see the flash of one of Sawyer’s brain-rattling punches pull back a moment too late, his fist connecting with my face in a hit that I’m thankful missed my nose. The impact rings out in my head, forcing me flat onto my back on the couch. I barely register Kinsey’s scream as she scoots away from me, Dallas and Liam shooting to their feet.

“Are you insane, Sawyer?” Kinsey yells at him. “What is wrong with you?”

“I want to keep you safe, Kins! I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you. Almost losing Ivy twice nearly killed me. It nearly broke Dallas after what happened to Blaire . . . she’s still recovering! You were there watching it! Next to her while she suffered! We wouldn’t survive it if it were you.”

“And I love you for it, Sawyer. I love you all so much. But you’re suffocating me. Do you know how hard it is to make friends? Real girlfriends? My entire life so many of them only wanted to be my friend because they had crushes on you four dumbasses. And guys won’t come near me. How many twenty-two-year-old virgins do you idiots know? Even at college, I wasn’t given freedom. Do you have any idea how lonely it’s been? I love you all so much, but if you don’t let me breathe, I’m going to leave Aspen Ridge. It will literally break me, but I can’t live in your shadows anymore.”

The room falls into silence as we watch our baby sister break down and cry. The realization of our behavior hovering over all of us, and how in our efforts to protect her, we’ve made her life that much harder.

All four of us are moving before she registers it, Sawyer scooping into her side, Liam on the other, with Dallas and I at her feet. Together, we hug our little sister, who’s definitely notso little anymore, and needs to live her life for herself. After everything Finn has been through, I know now how important it is to just give support. We can’t protect her out of fear of the unknown.

“She’s moving out of Mom and Dad’s and into Reid’s loft. And we’re all going to back off,” I say as I stand up and look down at them all.

“Since when does Casanova make decisions?” Dallas asks.

“Since I’m watching our baby sister cry, and I know what it feels like to not be comfortable with your situation and have no idea how to fix it.”

Kinsey bats the tears off her cheeks before walking up to me and wrapping her arms around my waist. I return the hug and glare at each one of my idiot brothers. Liam is the first to move. Wrapping Kinsey’s other side in a hug.

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