Page 78 of The Lost Kings
Truly and completely free to be who she wanted, and with whomever she wanted.
“Have you ever been in love?”
My cousin laughed, tilting her head back and everything. “No, and I hope I don’t ever fall in love. It sounds exhausting as hell. Do yourself a favor and stay wherever it is Uncle Scotty has you going; at least there, you’ll have adventures.”
Her phone rang, and before she swiped to answer it, she ruffled my hair and then walked into the house. I sat there for a few more moments, knowing my parents were about to hear that I’d been messing around with both brothers and likely thinking the absolute worst of me. Part of me wanted to run and never see anyone again out of sheer humiliation, but the other part of me wanted the secret to come out.
I wanted everyone to know, but know what?
I’d be mortified if the twins didn’t think I was worth being with for good. To keep.
I had to find out what this was to them, and plan for it so I didn’tget stuck like Carter said. I needed a plan for the future in case they didn’t want to be a part of it.
The twins looked so grownup in their fitted suits.
I watched them move around the room, smiling at everyone who came up and wished them a birthday greeting. Their smiles stretched wider than normal as their friends acknowledged them. Their dark hair was swept back away from their faces, revealing wide jaws, narrow noses and a beauty that made my breath stall. Gio’s blue gray eyes were lively and alert, while Kingston’s amber ones were reserved and resilient.
I wanted to press pause and study their every move. Draw an image of how they looked in this moment and freeze it forever. It seemed freedom from the mansion and the chains of our upbringing suited them well. We were in Juan and Taylor’s secondary home, closer to Pinehurst. It was smaller than the manor, but the pool in back was massive.
Alex and Carter were here too, somewhere, and off along the edges of the property were Juan’s men, patrolling and watching. This was merely an illusion of freedom; our parents’ enemies would always be watching no matter what we did.
With no parents here, and no one watching closely, it allowed me to float aimlessly around the party and not think about how I was going to explain what I’d decided to confess to the twins. I had rehearsed what I’d say, and even now as I felt my skirt twirl around my ankles as I walked around the home, I mouthed each word to myself.
Carter caught my eye from across the room and lifted her Solo cup as a way of saying hello. I lifted mine in reply but kept walking. I wound around couches with couples kissing, people jumping into the pool and clouds of smoke. There was a game of beer pong Iskirted just in time to avoid being hit, then I found my way to the stairs.
I was getting tired, and I felt weird wearing heels, so my plan was to find a bedroom and take them off while I waited. The second I found a room at the end of the hall, I felt two pairs of hands at my back, pushing me inside.
“Elvis, you look fucking gorgeous,” Gio rasped, before placing a kiss to my neck.
Kingston shut the door and tugged my wrist, forcing me to face him. “You do look stunning,mi reina, but take those shoes off, you must be miserable.”
I was miserable, but only because of how hard my heart rapped against my breast and how unfair it was that it had chosen the two of them to fall in love with. Still, I bent down and slipped off my shoes and allowed my bare toes to press against the soft carpet.
“Happy Birthday!” I flung my arms around Kingston’s neck and relished how he picked me up and carried me to the bed.
Gio was unbuttoning his suit jacket as he jumped on the bed, forcing both me and King to dip toward him. Then I was sandwiched between them while they both took a hand and kissed it.
“How’s your birthday going?” I asked, staring up at the ceiling with a lazy smile.
They both made a humming sound before Gio replied, “Better now.”
“Much better now,” King added before tugging a piece of my hair up and looping it around his finger.
I needed to say it before I chickened out; I had to ask them. I needed to ask them more than I needed my next breath, but fear had me biting my lip.
“What is this, what are you hiding?” Gio asked, gently tugging my lip free before bending over to kiss it.
I let out a shuddery breath. “I need to ask you guys something.”
Gio’s gaze was loaded and full of concern. Kingston’s was pure fire as he stared down at me. The bass from their party seemed to bea heartbeat between the walls, reminding me I was keeping them from their friends, but selfishly not caring at all.
Moving up to my elbows and then sitting up, I tugged each of their hands into my lap before gaining the courage needed. “How do you feel about me?”
Gio was the first to dip his brows in question. “What do you mean?”
“You’re our best friend,” Kingston started, but I didn’t miss how Gio snapped his gaze up to him as if he was worried he’d say something else or too much.
“Just your best friend, or is there anything more?”
