Abi glides up like a queen entering court, wrapped in sequins, hair blown out to perfection, fingers curled around the arm of?—
Oh no.
Gideon.
My blood goes cold.
Gideon stands beside her in khaki slacks and a burgundy shirt, sleeves rolled to show the ink on his forearms. His storm-grey eyes lift from Abi to me—and freeze. His jaw tightens as if he’s seeing a ghost.
If Silas looked slapped, Gideon looks like the ghost slapped him back.
Abi has no idea. She flashes her perfect teeth. “Penelope, darling, you made it.”
I’m pretty sure my soul leaves my body.
Silas.
Gideon.
Both of them are here. Both of them staring at me like the ground broke open.
I want to run.
I want to disappear.
I want to rewind time by twenty seconds and run my car into a mailbox instead.
“I…” I stammer, but the words tangle.
Abi beams, oblivious. “Oh! It seems you’ve finally met my brother-in-law. Well—former brother-in-law. Silas is Talon and Minxy’s uncle. God rest their father’s soul.”
I swear the room tilts even harder.
Talon’s uncle.
Silas is Talon’s uncle.
Talon—who I made terrible closet choices with.
Silas—who has been in my bed, in my head, in my everything.
And Gideon—who is staring at me with a look that sayshow are you standing in this house?
Abi’s hand tightens on Gideon’s arm like she owns him. “And this stoic man is my half-brother, Gideon.” She laughs. “Penelope, these are the important men in my life. And this—” she gestures between us like unveiling a portrait “—is my soon-to-be daughter.”
I feel my spine lock. “Stepdaughter.”
The word slices the air.
Both men react—tiny, stunned flashes in their eyes, almost identical. Silas blinks like he misheard. Gideon’s face goes blank in that dangerous way he uses to hide emotion. Talon—who has somehow materialized at my elbow—looks like Christmas came early.
But they all recover fast. Too fast.
Abi doesn’t seem to notice. “Penelope here will be Chad’s best woman at the wedding. Isn’t that sweet?”
It isn’t sweet. It’s vomit-inducing. But before I can say something petty and deeply satisfying, my father calls from across the room.
“Abi, come here for a moment, sweetheart.”
