Page 81 of The Lost Kings
I stupidly assumed they didn’t mind me sharing their hearts.
I’d had my fingers around both since before I knew I was in love with them, and now they were prying my hands away, one digit at a time. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“So that’s it. You turn eighteen and let me go?”
Gio tried to pull me closer, but I put my hand up, preventing it.
“No. We turn eighteen and we wait around for Scotty to tell us to fuck off. We keep doing what we’re doing, and eventually one day, King and I, we’ll find a way to move on.”
With my throat burning, and my voice trembling, I managed to form one last thing. “I wish you’d find a way to choose me, to fight for me. I wish you’d find a way to make room for this because it could have been beautiful and perfect. I wish you weren’t such cowards.”
With that, I spun on my heel and ran out of the room and darted down the stairs. I ran with tears blurring my vision until I found Carter, and then with her arm around me, tucked close to her side, I went home.
Chapter 30
Gio
AGE 18
Istared at my brother as he hung his head and propped his elbows on his knees. We were both simmering after Presley left, unsure how we’d go back to a party celebrating us. It was all just a ruse, a way for us to be alone with Presley, maybe dance with her and not have anyone question why. Our hope was to find her in here and convince her to spend time with us downstairs after Carter and our big sister left.
I love you.
“We need to go after her,” I muttered quietly, a knot forming in my throat.
The look on her face, the way she dug into our chests and didn’t see what we were hiding from her. Of course we loved her back; we’d both been in love with her for longer than either of us understood. We were completely undone by her and she stood there accepting the trivial truths we tossed at her as a way to guard our own emotions.
Kingston’s eyes were red as he looked up at me. “And say what? We did the right thing…we can head off, let things cool down for a few weeks and come back with a new plan.”
“What plan could possibly undo what we just did to her?”
My twin suddenly stood and yelled in my face. “We had no other option but to release her. The shit’s about to hit the fan the second we get home. You know I’m right.”
Deep down I did.
We’d tasted forbidden fruit, now we’d be held accountable for it. Our time in Eden was over.
We arrived home an hour later,leaving our party early and asking all of our guests to leave. Our shirts were untucked as our heads hung low and we made our way into our living room.
Sure enough, our dad was waiting for us, so were Kyle and Scotty.
I inhaled a sharp breath as I stared at the duffle bags on the floor, packed and ready to go.
“What’s going on?” I asked, eyeing the men in the room.
Kingston froze once he caught sight of the bags.
Dad let out a heavy sigh before standing. “I warned you both when you were younger that you couldn’t interfere with Presley’s training.”
“We haven’t,” Kingston snapped.
Kyle glared at us as if we were enemies of his. “She came home tonight and explained that she’s done training. Done with everything.”
Shit.
King glanced at me, and I stared back.
“We’re aware of what’s transpired between you…she fell for you both, and you each allowed it. She’s in a dangerous position to have her heart broken,” Scotty explained calmly.
