Page 56 of The Spring in My Heart

I laugh. “Why uncomfortable?”

“He’s my brother.”

“I guess I get it.” Then again, I don’t.

“Do you have brothers?”

I hesitate, because how much should I really say? Then, I decide to go with the truth because I have nothing to be ashamed of. “I do. Three brothers and a sister, but I don’t know them. They’re from my dad’s marriage. We have different mothers.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

I shake my head. “Don’t be. It’s all good.”

“But they’re your brothers. As annoying as mine are, I can’t be without them for long. Do they know you exist?”

I nod. “They don’t want to know me.”

We fall into silence.

I want to ask her to go inside, but she’s not ready. I sit on the chair across from her. There’s a frown on her face, and she’s looking out the window. Whatever went down with Mateo had to be heavy. She looks so lost.

She shakes her head a few times.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask.

She nods. “Yeah, because I don’t get it. How can they not want to know you? You’re a good guy and so loving with Ayla.”

My jaw goes slack. She’s talking about my siblings, and that look on her face is like she can’t believe it. Like she can’t accept that someone wouldn’t want to know me.

“Is that what you were thinking about?”

She brushes her hair back with her hand. “Well…yeah. It’s more perplexing than what I was thinking about before…my mother.”

“I thought you were thinking about Mateo.”

She scoffs. “Why would I be thinking about him?”

I shrug. “He’s your ex, who came all the way here to see you. And he wants you back.”

“He always wants me back, Ollie, but that’s not about me. It’s about his ego. I’m over him, and he can’t handle that.”

I’m not convinced. He’s possessive with her. “Are you sure? He seems very determined.”

“Every time he messes up and I cut him off, he’s more set on getting back with me. I’m just status to him.”

That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard. “Have you seen yourself? Have you seen the way he looks at you? The way every man who is not related to you looks at you? You’re more than just status.”

She chuckles. “Yeah, the most popular vlogger in New York and Cam’s sister. I’m also a trophy.”

“You’re the prize, Lux.”

There goes that smile again, that lip disappearing behind her teeth ever so briefly.

You just told Chase you weren’t after her. Get the hell away from her before you break your word. “We should go back inside.”

She nods before leaning in. Almost instinctively, I turn my head, and my lips drag across hers. I reach for her.

“Aunt Lux,” Bron calls out.

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