Page 130 of The Photograph

My sister shakes her head, sets the timer on the ovens, and tugs on my hand. “Come with me.”

We sit in the living room where I cross my legs on the couch while she settles beside me.

She tucks my hair behind my ear. “No, I didn’t fall in love with my first orgasm. Are you in love with Gabe?”

My heart races.. “I think… “I take a deep breath. “I am, yes.”

She holds my hand. “What do you love about him?”

I don’t even need to think. “Everything. The way he laughs. He has dimples, he’s funny, like, really goofy funny and he’s super smart—”

She kisses the back of my hand “Aelin, you’ve trusted yourself with Gabe even when no one else did, or I didn’t, anyway. Trust yourself again. You know how you feel. Have you told him?”

I shake my head and put my head in the crook of her shoulder.

She hugs me tight. “I’m happy for you, angel.”

I straighten up to look at her. “What if he doesn’t love me?”

“We go back to killing him and make his body disappear,” Cara says, and I’m not entirely sure she’s joking.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Gabe

I toss my boxing gloves in the basket with more force than necessary.

“Bro, you’re brooding. Aelin?”

One day, I will rip the smirk off his face. I snap my eyes to Cal expecting the permanent mocking expression, but only meet concern. He’s right, Iambrooding.

He steps closer. “Is she okay?”

Dropping on the bench, I exhale slowly. “I don’t know, Cal. After I came back from Dubai, she said she needed a little time apart to assess her life.”

Cal settles beside me. “G, she’s been through more shit than most people—”

Heat crowds the back of my neck. “Because of me. I don’t need the fucking reminder.”

My friend scoffs. “Fuck, you’re dumb when it comes to her. What I mean is her rapist father, Cara’s dad, a sister she fucking adores, recently died. And that’s after she’s been through major surgery.”

When I grit my teeth, Cal sighs. “Which would have happened with anyone.” He slaps my shoulder. “I love you, bro, but you don’t have magical cum. Aelin’s been through the worst thing that could happen to a kid, and she deals with all that shit looking gorgeous and without losing her grace. You lied and manipulated her, and she not only forgave you, but gave herself back to you.”

She did and I… Cal continues. “Seeing you all knotted up every time she’s not around, I’m guessing she gives you what you need.”

For fucks’ sake. Snapping my back straight, I whip my eyes to Cal who rolls his eyes.

“G, I’m not interested in your sex life. Calm down and just fucking hear me out.”

I dip my chin, and Cal says, “Brother, what do you want from her? Because even though you don’t like it, chances are she’ll want to explore other relationships. In the short time you’ve known each other, you have history. Heavy, painful shit. So maybe when she wants a break to get her head right, fucking let her have one.”

The last time she needed a break…

“G, what have you done for her besides repairing the damage you did?”

I shut my eyes. He’s right. I want to punch him for it, but he’s right.

Without a word, I get to my feet and stride to the door. As I veer toward the shower, I grunt at Cal’s mocking voice. “You’re welcome, butthead.”

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