“I’m glad it’s easier. Iwantto help.”
I wrapped my arms around his back and pulled him close, and when we were both ready, I released him. “If he’s not in his room, I’ll bet you five dollars he’s in the bath.”
Kingston laughed. “He does seem to be a big fan of those. I’m concerned the water bill for Pendragon might be astronomical with him in the house.”
“Yeah, you might need him to chip in if you’re strapped for cash.” I snorted, and he smiled broadly.
“Well, that’s a silver lining for all that wealth, I guess. It might be a society of elitist assholes, but at least Max can have his baths. And one day, we can use it to make sure each of us has the things we want most here.”
“Ooh, I like that idea. I’ll need a wing for Gia, obviously.”
“Of course,” he said seriously. “And I want to build an indoor pool for Landon. He started swimming again, but he hasn’t wanted to go in the lake, so…a pool would be nice.”
“And what about you?”
“I’ll have everything I ever wanted, if you’re all here and safe…and happy.”
Emotion swelled in my chest, springing tears to my eyes unexpectedly. But I didn’t know why it affected me so much. When he thumbed my cheek, swiping at a tear as it escaped, I searched his features.
But there was nothing hiding there, the way I thought there’d been in his words. His eyes shone with peace the way they had only a few times before. When we were all together.
“It’ll be alright, love.” He gave a small smile. “You’ll see.”
It was the first time he’d said it where I didn’t want to throttle him. Or make him spill all his secrets. But the peace in his expression overpowered the accompanying dread.
I recalled our talk from before the Courage Challenge ended.
After so much tragedy, believing things would work out in the end grew harder. I struggled to trust the good when recent experiences had brought only pain, and to hold onto faith.
Just like I had while waiting for answers.
But it was worth it in the end.
So, for the first time, when he said the words, “you’ll see,” I believed him.
And I believed my faith in Max wasn’t misplaced, either.
Smiling at Kingston, I pushed off the wall I leaned against. “Alright then. Let’s go find the tall, dark, and broody one.”
Kingston nodded and took my hand, but as he led me from the room, a loud bang came from the hallway. I rushed to the door, swinging it open right as Max shouted.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
Max seethed at his half-brother, rapid breaths from flared nostrils coming in quick succession, and guilt sank in my gut right as his fist connected with Morty’s stomach. Morty lurched backward, and Max pushed his way past him, barreling through to get out of the room.
“Stay the fuck away from me,” he growled.
“But little brother, I can explain?—”
Lifting his head, Max glared down the hallway in the direction of the other rooms.
First, Landon’s.
Then he found me standing in the doorway, eyes wide and mouth open with words I’d been on my way to give him. When Kingston stepped out of the room behind me, Max jolted with the truth of whatever Morty had said to get under his skin.
Morty brushed off his clothes and straightened his spine.
My eyes flicked to him before shifting to Max and begging him to believe me. For what, he had no way of knowing. Nothing to hold onto but that I’d kept the truth from him, even if it was my secret to keep.
