A hot flare of irritation sparks behind my eyes. “I don’t need you to see me,” I say.
His expression doesn’t change much, but tension sets in his jaw. “Kira’s not blind, Silas.”
My throat goes tight at her name, but I shove the feeling back down where it belongs.
“She cares about you.”
I bark a short, humorless laugh.
“We all need to be honest with each other,” he says.
As if being honest is easy. As if love doesn’t come with shrapnel.
I’ve watched men destroy each other over less.
I finally look at him, my eyes hard. “Let me make this simple for you.”
He waits, and I step closer until we’re at the same eye level. My voice is low and precise. “I’m not anyone’s consolation prize.”
His brow barely moves. “That’s not what this is.”
“It’s what it turns into when people startincludingeach other like a checklist,” I snap. “I’m not your fifth wheel. I’m not the spare chair you pull in so nobody feels left out.”
He holds my gaze, unflinching. “Nobody feels left out. We feel … protective.”
“Don’t.” It comes out like a warning. “Don’t put that on me.”
His eyes narrow. “You think I’m offering pity.”
“I think you’re offering a solution, and I’m not a problem you solve.”
After a beat of silence, Andrew’s voice goes quieter. “You’reour brother.”
It lands like a hit on a chest plate.
“I’m not trying to force anything,” he says. “I’m trying to keep us from pretending this doesn’t exist, so it doesn’t blow up in our faces.”
“You are forcing,” I say flatly. “You’re talking like it’s all been decided. Like you’ll make space and everybody will fit.”
He lifts his chin. “Then what do you want?”
The honest answer rises up so fast it nearly chokes me.
I want her to look at me the way she looks at you.
I want to put my hand where Boyd puts his, and have it feel natural instead of stolen.
I want to be part of the warmth without losing the only family I’ve ever had.
Instead, I give him the truth I can live with.
“I want you to stop assuming I’m available for whatever arrangement you’ve built,” I say. “You and Boyd can share her if you’re determined to do it, but I won’t be part of some experiment just to keep everyone happy.”
He stares at me for a long moment, hurt flickering behind his eyes.
“You’re attracted to her,” he says quietly.
Heat crawls up my neck.
