Page 58 of Broken Truths

A growl leaks out of Leo’s throat, but when I peer over, it’s Alaric who looks like he could strangle the young Forbes.

Keegan holds his hand up and focuses on me. “Only to realize you were right all along. I should’ve spent less time thinking about my family and my fucking pedigree and what was owed to me and more time with your sister.” His voice cuts out, and he clears his throat. “I was wrong.”

His words start a pressure in my chest that works its way up to my eyes and tears threaten to spring forth at any moment. Her absence is still raw.

“I should’ve been at the funeral. I’m sorry.”

“Which one?”

“Fucking both of them.” He takes in a shaky breath, and Oliver opens up a crystal decanter on the side table and pours a few gulps of whiskey into a glass before holding it out to him.

Keegan takes it and chugs it down like it’s water. I’m sure I haven’t seen Keegan Forbes do something so uncultured in my entire life.

“I was wrong to keep the last few months of Delilah’s life a secret from you. I know you came back to Carnegie to feel closer to her…you pledged the Knights…” He shakes his head.

“Well, I’m listening now,” I finally say to get him back on track. From the outside, it looks like Keegan’s brain is a mess of brambles inside a maze and he’s still trying to figure his way out.

“We know about the bet,” Alaric says.

Keegan growls, then goes over to the table and fills his entire cup to the brim with brown liquid before taking a huge mouthful and swallowing it back. “I was so fucking stupid. I couldn’t think straight after she— After I was hurt that she wouldn’t just have sex with me. I get it now. We talked about it…before…”

“So, she was a virgin and you made her a target.” Leo isn’t pulling any punches, but that’s what he does.

Keegan flinches. “I wasn’t thinking.” He swirls the liquid around in his cup, then tosses it back before placing the glass on the table. “I thought she would get teased. I honestly didn’t think they would start a bet over it. I was already getting shit from my father about not sleeping with her, then—”

“—then the flowers.”

“I really don’t know who they were from.”

Alaric’s fingers curl into the sofa. “I delivered the flowers that night…on request from your father.”

I watch Keegan’s face, wanting to see how this news impacts him.

His jaw goes slack. “You’re sure?”

Alaric nods. “Your father handed them off to me and asked me to deliver them to Jarvis Hall, second floor room. I didn’t know it was Delilah’s room at the time, but I found out afterward.” He moves his gaze to me and holds it. The love pouring from him distracts me momentarily before I search Keegan back out.

“Why would he do that?” I ask him.

My sister’s only love looks like he’s going to puke. He’s not just pale now, he’s almost transparent, as if everything is draining from him. His eyes work, moving back and forth like he’s reading an invisible book. Without saying anything, he storms off.

Leo, however, throws himself over the couch and gets in his path.

“Move the fuck out of my way!” Keegan roars.

“I don’t think so, man. You came here, and you’ve barely said shit. You said Eden deserved to know things, and I know all too well that she does, so get your ass back in front of her and tell her what the fuck is going on.” He points to the fireplace.

I stand from the couch on shaky legs. “Keegan?”

He scans the room. His hand flies up to his mouth and then he’s running for the back of the couch where he leans over and wretches.

Oliver jumps up like he’s about to get vomit on him and moves toward me, holding his hand out to thread our fingers together.

“I’ll go get a washcloth,” Alaric whispers as he strides out of the room.

Keegan’s bent at the waist for some time until he can’t expel anything else. My heart is in my throat in anticipation. Something we’ve said has gotten to him, and I can barely contain the negative energy sweeping through me.

Alaric returns and hands him the washcloth before standing on the other side of me. Leo still holes up near the door as if expecting Keegan to bolt again.

---