“I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, T.” My voice cracks as I try to breathe. “I’ve spent years focusing on my modeling career, raising my daughter, providing for both of us. It’s been me and Em for so long, and god, Teya… it’s all I know. It’sallI fucking know!”
My sister comes up from behind and hands me a tissue, then wraps her arms around my waist, resting her head gently against my back.
“Maybe it’s time you make room for someone else, honey?”
“But… a man?”
“Sure. Why not?”
I whine, voice trembling. “I don’t know. It’s just… I’ve done everything right. Walked the straight and narrow—until he came along. Until Elijah. And then I don’t know what the hell happened. Lost my focus, I guess. He knocked me right off that straight line.”
I turn my head slightly, meeting her eyes. “Obviously in more ways than one.”
I hold her gaze, feeling the unconditional acceptance there, and admit, “I love him, Teya.”
“Oh, honey. I know you do. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Since Meera left, you haven’t let anyone in. But now you’ve got another chance at happiness, Alex. Your lines don’t always have to be straight.Youdon’t even have to be straight,” she adds gently. “There’s a reason for crooked roads, baby brother. Treasures are found where few dare to wander. Take a chance, Alex.”
I can’t help but smile. My sister always knows exactly what to say to bring things into focus—to lift just enough of the weight so I can breathe again. She was my rock when we lost our parents in that awful plane crash. Christ, we were just kids. And truth be told, I was a wreck.
I don’t know where she finds her strength, but I love her even more for it.
“Where’s Elijah now?” she asks gently, her hand gliding over my arm.
“At my place. Probably still in my bed.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I don’t fucking know.” I groan, yanking on my hair like I could rip the anxiety out of my skull. “I was on this emotional roller coaster, and I just… panicked.” My voice cracks. “God, Teya—I walked away from him. Just like Meera did to me. No explanation, no note, nothing. I left him lying there, completely unaware of my freak-out.”
I shake my head, disgusted with myself.
“Jesus… I’m no better than her.”
She spins me around, tilting my face up toward hers. I press a tissue to my swollen, red-rimmed eyes and pull her close, wrapping my arms around her. She’s so damn small, but the strongest person I know. Gently, she wipes a stray tear sliding down my cheek.
“Do you still want me to tell you about Elijah?” I murmur, lips resting against her forehead as my exhausted mind finally begins to ease.
Her small hands cradle my face. “No, honey. Not anymore.”
She smooths her thumbs over my tear-streaked cheeks, and I blink as the wetness fades, grounded by her steady touch.
“Your tears say it all, baby brother.”
28
ELIJAH
Goose bumps crawlacross my skin like an army of ants, pulling me from a deep sleep. Something about the air feels off—still, but not peaceful. A silence that doesn’t sit right. And trust me, I know a thing or two about silence. Gabriel despises it.
I sit up, leaning against the headboard, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My body aches in ways it hasn’t for a very long time.
I reach over and flick on the bedside lamp. The sudden stream of light stings my eyes, but I let them adjust. Once the blur clears, I begin taking inventory—one sock lies abandoned by the nightstand. Clothes are still in a pile on the floor. So far, so good.
But then it hits me. Those are my clothes.
Alex’s lounge pants—the ones he was wearing last night—are nowhere in sight.
My chest tightens. I grab my phone. It’s nearly midnight.
