Chapter Nine
Jenson
Fuck.They know.
As soon as I turn toward Dylan and Brayden, I see their faces as the truth starts to crystallize: Olivia Graham is my mystery woman.
I tell Olivia I’ll call her later, take Kyle and Connor by the hands, and practically run out of the bank.
“Jenson.” Dylan’s voice behind me is one of stunned awareness.
“Let me put the boys in the truck.” I situate Kyle and Connor in their car seats and turn on the A/C.
Once I make sure both boys are preoccupied, singing to their favorite music and can’t hear me, I close the truck door and turn to face Dylan and Brayden.
Arms crossed over my chest—okay, my heart—I say, “I couldn’t tell you.”
“But Colton knows.” Dylan’s question isn’t judgmental or accusing in any way—it’s simply stating a fact.
My expression must confirm this to be true because Dylan and Brayden both cross their arms over their chests, mimicking my pose.
“You looked at her the way I look at Jasalie.” Dylan’s tone is so certain I blink.
I give a slow nod. “The way I feel about her is forever.”
“Talk to us.” Dylan leans against the side of my truck.
“Not here.” I open the driver’s door. “Let’s drop the boys off at my mom’s so they won’t be late for Meghan picking them up. I’ll drive you to your plane, and we’ll talk on the way.”
* * *
On the way to the small airport where Dylan’s private plane is waiting for him and Brayden, I give them an overview of my relationship with Olivia.
“So it’s always been her.” Dylan glances over at me from the passenger seat.
“Always. Always will be.”
“I knew you and Meghan were young and felt forced into marriage,” he says. “But this adds a whole new layer of pain.”
“Olivia was at my wedding,” I say, remembering how he’d said he didn’t see her there. “She left early.”
“I don’t blame her,” Dylan murmurs. “Must have been pure hell.”
“We’re figuring this out one step at a time right now,” I say. “It’s been a lot of years and a lot of time apart. We’re getting to know each other all over again this summer, and to bring in our families too soon—I’m afraid it would kill whatever momentum we have going for us. Plus, Olivia’s dad’s the town mayor; she’s under a constant microscope. Most people here truly think we’re actual cousins.”
“I feel like an asshole that I’ve been calling her your cousin,” Dylan says as he runs his hand through his hair.
“You shouldn’t feel badly in the least,” I say. “My mom introduced her to you that way. And I never corrected that with you.”
“You were kids,” Brayden says. “What were you supposed to do—fight two families at once over something that probably confused the hell out of you? Forbidden relationships are hard for a reason, J.”
“I know.” I grip the steering wheel so hard my hands hurt. “Plus, Olivia was underage. She’s almost three years younger than me, and when you’re teenagers, that’s a big fucking deal.”
“I didn’t realize the age difference…” Dylan counts silently. “So when you were already eighteen, she was just fifteen?”
I nod. “Too young. She was only sixteen when I left for school, and I wanted her to have a normal high school experience. I didn’t want her waiting around for me and not get to enjoy being a teenager. So we broke things off, as much as we could, and agreed to see where we ended up. But life takes hairpin turns sometimes.”
“Kyle and Connor,” Brayden says. “Wow.”
