Page 3 of Unveiled Wishes

“It is peach shaped, or so I think. I can’t really tell when I look in the mirror. I bet we look the same from the back, but you probably have more muscles.”

“This is weird. I am sure your ass looks fine. Doesn’t Christopher tell you?” Slate, one of the older brothers, smacked my ass on his way downstairs to breakfast, his hand making a cracking sound against the globes. “If you’re going to slap it, at least give it a pickle tickle first,” I said to him. He didn’t turn around as he flicked me off.

“Was that what I think it was? Anyway, Christopher is part of the reason I called. Mom and Dad are taking the yacht to Greece for Christmas, and I don’t want to attend the Nelson’s annual Christmas party. I am not feeling up to dealing with Christopher and his parents, so I was thinking about coming to visit you. If that’s alright?”

She never rushed her sentences like that. There was more to this story, but I wouldn’t get the answers over the phone. “Yeah, Em. I’d love to have you for Christmas.”

“Great, I’ll call you later to book my flight and let you know when I’m coming. I am looking forward to it.” She hung up, and I stood in the hallway, looking at my phone. I owed it to my sister to figure out what the fuck was going on.

Chapter 2

Making Dreams Out Of Nothing

Emily

“Did you tell your brother that you called off our engagement?” Christopher leaned against the doorframe of my office.

“No, I didn’t,” I said, shifting a few files on my desk to look busy. I didn’t want to engage in this conversation. If I pretended not to be interested, he might go away quicker.

“Embarrassed that you’ve made the worst mistake of your life?” I wouldn’t be so lucky. Christopher didn’t know when to quit, which was one reason I’d called off the wedding.

“Eric wouldn’t care, even if I told him.” I shrugged, telling Christopher the truth. My brother had never conformed to the high society ideals. In fact, he had actively rejected the mold my parents had created for him. I hadn’t been so lucky there either.

“It’s not too late. The announcement hasn’t gone out, and we could just say that this was pre-wedding jitters, Emily. Our families are expecting the companies to unite under our marriage, and you’re throwing years away on some fancynotion.” Christopher crossed his arms over his chest. “The biker has been gone for years. He’s not going to suddenly show.”

I knew that, but it stung to hear someone else say it. He’d had made it clear in his last letter that he was moving on. I had allowed myself a month to grieve the loss, and I had done the same. It had been easier than I expected, which had made me think it wasn't meant to be.

“No, I made the correct decision for me, and instead of accepting it, you’re standing there looking like a tool who can’t take no for an answer. I am not marrying you, and the companies can find another way to merge. It’s not that hard, and you would know that after years of Harvard Law.” I finally looked up at him, my hands properly folded on my desk.

He scoffed, standing straight in the doorway but didn’t unfold his arms. “You’re going to regret this, Em. Keep telling yourself you’re visiting your brother for Christmas. We both know who you’re really going to see,” he said, letting his voice trail off. “I may not take you back, so think carefully.” He smacked the doorframe with his hand, turned on his dress heel, and walked off.

“Good riddance,” I mumbled.

I turned my computer on and pulled up my calendar for the day. My first meeting wasn’t for another hour, which was good. I needed the time to calm down.

I wasn’t Eric. I had been the dutiful daughter until recently. He had made his own way in life, and I had obediently followed the meticulously laid out plan. Prep School. Ivy League college. Harvard Law. Every time I checked another box, I hoped it was the one that would force my parents to pay attention to me. It never was, but I didn’t stop.

I closed my eyes and laid my head back against my office chair, letting my mind replay the past.

***

Seven Years Ago

The Hamptons

It was the last days of summer, and I was taking advantage of the peace. My parents had dressed for some charity function, but I had begged off. I told them I wasn’t feeling well, and that I wasn’t sure I could act accordingly. I rarely used that excuse, preferring to just grin and bear it, but they had believed me. Walking out the door, they told me to go back to bed, and they would see me later. I’d be lucky if I saw them before I went back to school in a week.

Once they were gone, I put my swimsuit on, grabbed my latest romance novel, and headed to the pool in the backyard. Adjusting the beach chair to my liking, I was ready to lose myself in my book and not come back up for a few hours.

I wasn’t sure how long I had been out there, but the side gate opened, and Eric and Tyler walked through in swim trunks. At the beginning of summer, my brother had called and asked if he could come home for rest and relaxation. After spending most of the year deployed, Eric had some time off before his next assignment. I had been excited to see him, but I hadn’t known he was bringing his best friend with him.

Tyler Mitchell stood out in the Hamptons like a sore thumb. He didn’t dress in designer clothes. He was happy doing mundane things, and even though he wasn’t disrespectful towards my parents, he didn’t attend any of the parties they wanted him to. My parents were eager to show off my military brother and his friend. They thought it would earn them patriotic points, whatever they considered that to be worth.

“Hey, Em. What are you doing here?” Eric asked me as they dropped towels onto the other chairs.

“What do you mean?” I asked, slightly confused.

“Weren’t you supposed to go to the hospital charity function? Mom brought it up this morning, and she was making a big deal about us attending in our uniforms. Instead, I made sure we were out all day, so that she wouldn’t call.” Eric stood at the foot of my chair, blocking the sun. I raised my hand to shield my eyes, hoping to bring his features into focus.

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