Page 17 of The Road Less Traveled By

“I’m fine,” I say into his ear.

“It’s perfectly okay if you’re not.”

My throat locks up, and before my emotions bubble up, I shove them down as best I can. When I pull away and he sees my face, I know he knows, but he doesn't say anything.

If anyone knows how I feel right now, it’s probably him.

Tristan’s brother Tobias died last year. It was horrible, sudden, and it wrecked us all. I didn't know him very well, but I still felt the pain of it. Losing someone the way that they did is never easy, and Tristan blamed himself for not seeing the signs. He loves to run away from his feelings, according to Liv, but he’s been working on being more open about them. I don't really know how to talk about my own feelings either. My therapist has helped a lot, but I’ve always avoided it because I don't want anyone to worry about me.

My sister and friends have enough to worry about without adding all my shit to the mix.

“How are you holding up?” I ask him, wanting to switch the subject off me. It’s bad enough the media spotlights my trauma all the time; I don't need it to be the topic of conversation when I’m trying to have a nice dinner with my family.

“Some good days and some bad. I know it won’t feel like this forever, but some days, it sure feels like it.” His eyes sadden, but as he looks over at my sister opening the door for Teags, his eyes sparkle.

Liv is his anchor, and I’m glad they have each other while they adjust to their new life together.

Teags’ eyes meet mine, and I know she can tell what’s going through my mind, but before she joins us, her eyes move to Vince. He hasn't said a word since we got here, and I know he feels a bit out of place. When I told him he didn't have to come tonight, he just scoffed at me and got the car ready.

He’s been attached to my hip, and I don't hate it, but I figured a family dinner wouldn't matter in terms of my safety. He disagreed, and now we’re here.

Liv throws Teags’ coat in the closet before she heads toward me. “Vince, how nice to see you again.”

“Teagen,” is all he says. He really is a man of few words.

“Actually, I take it back. It’snotvery nice to see you since you’re back to protect Bree from that fucking psychopath.”

I hear Vince laugh under his breath as Teags smiles at him. “I feel the same way.”

“Vince. We’ve never formally met, but I’m Tristan.” Tristan reaches out to shake his hand, and before I feel like this interaction is going to be awkward, Vince shakes his hand.

“Nice to meet you.” This is their first time meeting in person, but I know Vince has an entire folder of everybody in my life with background checks and anything else he managed to dig up. So, Tristan might not know Vince that well, but Vince surely knows him.

“I need all the details about you and Alexander before dinner,” Teagen says to me, dragging me by the arm to sit on the couch. I feel Vince behind me, and he sits next to us on the smaller couch.

“Teags, there’s really nothing to tell. You and Gregory probably have more fun than I do. It’s afakerelationship, remember?”

“First rule of tonight is no talking about my sister and her boyfriend. Got it?” Tristan says from the kitchen.

“Babe, what did I tell you earlier?” Liv asks him.

“I know, Liv, but if I hear about my sister and the things she does with her boyfriend, I might combust.”

“Stop being such a dad, Tristan. I’m twenty-three years old, and this is what normal girls talk about when they hang out.”

I stifle a laugh at how forward my best friend is. “You two are anything but normal, and you know that.” Tristan points his knife in our direction, and I hear Liv laugh as she pulls out a few waters for us.

I wish I was normal.Somedays, I feel lucky to live the life I do, but other days, I wish I could’ve been a normal teenager. I wish I had the chance to go to the mall with my friends, to get coffee with a boy, and be nervous about him touching my leg under the table. I didn't have any of the normal experiences people go through as they age.

I get cameras shoved in my face every time I leave the house. I get so many notifications that I had to turn them off completely, and while I’m grateful for my platform and how I’m able to use it, some days, I just wish I got to be a normal kid.

“So, is Alex every bit of the dick everyone says he is?” Teags asks me.

“Well—”

“Yes,” Vince says before I can answer and defend Alex.

“Oh, the plot thickens.” Teags smiles, and when I look over at Vince to scold him, he’s already looking at me.Damn, that stare does something to me.I’ve never seen a gaze that affects me like his does, and again, I’m blaming books. That’s the only reason his heated stare seems to make my insides feel all tingly. No other reason.

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