Elijah’s arms refold over his chest, the heat of his glare burrowing into me.
“You have some explaining to do—Friend.”
Running a hand over the back of my neck, I massage the tight muscles, trying to ward off the impending headache.
“Fine,” I say.
I fill them in on what happened sixteen years ago, how Darra and Zach conspired against us, and how Lottie’s revelation helped clear the air, forcing the guilty parties to admit the truth.
At some point, Elijah has taken a seat on the sofa, Pen next to him. Both her hands enveloped in one of his.
“Do you love her?” his voice is thick and heavy.
“That’s between Kat and me,” I say.
Not wanting to tell her brothers how I feel, before letting the woman herself know.
He nods as if understanding.
“What I will say is, I’ll do everything in my power never to hurt her again. I will fight for us.” My eyes move between my friends. “I would rather have you guys on our side than against us.”
“You have my backing,” Caleb says quickly. “And April’s.”
Pen shoulder bumps Elijah.
He grunts.
She coughs.
He turns to face Pen.
“What? She’s my sister, he’s my best friend, or at least was,” he growls. “They went behind my back. What about the best friend code?”
“Get over yourself,” Pen says. “If you hadn’t laid down the law all those years ago, they would not have had to hide their relationship, and Zach and Darra wouldn’t have had any ammunition.”
Elijah harrumphs and runs a hand through his hair.
Pen looks over at me and winks.
I allow my lips to tilt slightly, although I straighten them as soon as Elijah looks up.
“It was never you I was warning off,” he says, his voice suddenly tired. “But she ended up with him anyway. I could never understand why. I think now maybe I do.”
My stomach constricts.
“Just, don’t hurt her,” he says, standing up and pulling Pen into his side.
Elijah steps forward and holds out a hand. I shake it.
Caleb does the same.
Pen steps forward, coming around the desk to wrap her arms around me, whispering against my ear.
“Hurt her, and I’ll make these two look like puppies.”
She presses a kiss to my cheek before pulling back.
“You and Kat must come around for dinner,” she says, returning to Elijah’s side.
