I frown as I struggle to understand his meaning until it comes back to me. “Ah, the brainless blonde twins.” I can’t help giggling.
“You’re not mad?”
I shake my head. “We weren’t dating or exclusive, J. You were free to fuck whoever you wanted. I don’t hold that against you.” It just proved what he told me was a crock of shit. IfJoaquin really had strong feelings for me, he wouldn’t have been interested in screwing around with other girls.
“You’re a good person, Emmie, and I owe you an apology for the way I treated you on Saturday. Saying I was drunk is not an excuse, and I’m ashamed of what I did.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that, and you should forget about it. It’s not a big deal. I’m sorry for coming between you and your brother. I feel terrible about it.”
“It’ll blow over,” he says, shoving another mouthful of pasta in his mouth.
“I hope so because Jude told me a little of the story, and I’d hate to get in the way of a family reunion. I was totally shocked, but I’m so happy for you and your brothers. Jude said Kaiden was looking for them for years?”
Joaquin nods. “Yeah. Kai and my older brother Rick never stopped looking for them. Zayn and Roman had it tough. It wasn’t smooth sailing for us either, but Harley and I had Kai and Rick looking out for us, and Zayn didn’t have anyone.”
“He was always protecting Ro.”
“Yep.”
“Are we okay?” I ask before taking another bite of pasta.
“Yeah, we’re cool.” He nudges my shoulder. “I’m too much of a player to ever settle down, and deep down, you’re a relationship girl. It would never have worked out between us, but if you and my brother have something good, you should patch things up with him.”
My eyes pop wide. “You mean that?”
Slowly, he nods. “My brother hasn’t had many good things in his life. If you’re his happiness, I’d be a shitty brother to deprive him of that.”
On instinct, I reach out and hug Joaquin. “He’s lucky to have a brother like you.”
Joaquin snorts but doesn’t say anything.
We chat casually while we finish eating, and then I make my goodbyes, smiling as I leave the house feeling more hopeful than when I set out earlier.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Emery
Ireturn to the apartment for a few hours to update Uma on my successful talk with Joaquin while I attempt to pluck up the courage for my second Anderson brother conversation. When it’s dark, I head out in my SUV to Abby and Kaiden’s house.
Abby opens the door as I raise my hand to knock, shouting behind her, “It’s Emery!” She turns to me with a smile, grabbing my hand and pulling me inside. “I’m glad you’re here. It saves me making a call.”
“Okay,” I say, a bit perplexed. “I was hoping to speak to Zayn.”
“He’s not here,” she says, dragging me into the nearest room, which is a smallish room with a bookcase, two leather recliner chairs, and a square coffee table. “But we’ll get to that in a minute. We need a girl talk. Take a seat, and I’ll be back in a sec.” She flies out the door, leaving me scratching my head.
She returns like a whirlwind, handing me a bottle of water as she sits in the chair beside me. “I heard all about the fight, and Zayn told us earlier what he did last year. I wanted to punch him so bad.”
A startled giggle leaves my lips, and she grins. “I alternate between wanting to punch him and wanting to kiss him.”
“I can relate. I regularly feel that way about my husband.” She rolls her eyes, but she’s still smiling. “I want to tell you how Kai and I got together. It’s a long story, but I’ll spare you the gruesome details and just give you a summary.”
I don’t get much chance to object before she launches into the story. I’m riveted as I listen, oohing and ahhing at certain parts. “I’m totally shocked,” I admit when she finishes. “I never would have believed Kaiden capable of those things.”
“He was such an asshole, and he said and did some really cruel things to me at the start.”
“Yet you forgave him.”
“I did.” A dreamy expression ghosts over her face. “I gave him hell. He proved himself to me, and then we were inseparable.”
