Even though his actions almost made me fall, I shouldn’t worry. He would never let me hit the ground if he had anything to say about it. His arm wraps around my midsection, pulling me back.
“Ayden.” His other hand comes to rest against my face. “Please breathe. It’s alright.”
“W-Why would you… do that?!” I try to push him away again, but this time he doesn’t allow me to separate us.
My gaze snaps to my sister.
To see the judgment.
To see the disgust.
To see… her fucking smiling?
Tears she’d held tightly moments before streak down her cheeks, her teeth bearing in her smile. Her happiness blooms into pure, unhindered joy. I swear, the way she looks at me brings heatto my eyes.
“Fucking finally.” Her tearful words melt into a laugh.
I slowly turn my gaze back to Keo. His worried look matches his question. “Are you alright, sunshine? Please breathe, you’re looking pale.”
He’s so… calm. As if kissing me in front of his stepsister is completely natural.
Then his expression shifts to fear. “Say something.”
My lips tremble, ready to speak, when Alysa wraps her arm around me. I look down to see her burying herself between us.
Now she’s full-on sobbing.
“I’m so fucking happy for you guys,” she chokes out, squeezing us tightly together. “I hoped for this. I prayed, and you know how I feel about praying.” Her head lifts, and god, seeing her red, tear-streaked face sets my own to start building in my eyes. “I love you both so much, holy fuck.”
Slowly, I wrap an arm around her, but glance up at Keo.
“You… told her already?”
He shakes his head softly. “No… but I did tell her about us kissing the night of your graduation.”
My heart tumbles straight into my stomach.
“When?”
He sighs. “The first year I came to the cabin for Christmas…”
I swallow hard, then glance at my twin, feeling slightly betrayed. “You never said anything.”
She goes from rubbing her snotty nose on Keo to doing the same to me. “What was I going to say? When I found out, you were dating that asshole, Michael.”
His large fingers cup the side of my neck, and I watch as he gently guides Alysa aside with the other. “Ayden.” He brings his free hand to press against my chest. “I wouldn’t have kissed you in front of her if I wasn’t certain it would turn out like this. You were working yourself up for nothing. Aly would support you in anything.”
“Yeah, I’m a little offended,” she murmurs.
“Why didn’t you tell me… before she got here?”
He leans forward and presses a gentle kiss to my lips. “Becauseyou would’ve been mad at her for not saying anything, and still a mess until she got here. Now you have both of us here to scold if you so choose. But, sunshine, I need you to breathe and not have a panic attack, please.”
It takes a moment, but I finally get my anxiety under control. Holy shit, that scared the hell out of me.
He releases me so my sister can step in for a solo hug. I don’t hesitate to embrace her.
“Oh, righty, I always saw you two…”
