Once I'm dressed, I brush my hair and style it into two braids to keep it out of my face. When I'm satisfied my hair will stay put, I walk over to my bed, opening the drawer to my nightstand and grab my Kindle. I boot it up while climbing under the covers.
For days when I'm reading, I have a whole setup—a little stand that holds my kindle, and snacks that sit on one side of my bed—while I snuggle into my huge lounge pillow with the blanket my grandmother made me when I was eight. These moments are when I'm happiest.
Opening up my book, I get about a few pages in when I feel my eyes getting heavy. Before I can even process my book, darkness takes over.
five
Kieran
It's been two weeks since I had the little mouse in my bed, and I can't keep her off my mind. I've never experienced anything like that. What I would do to have her again, but that is not something that will ever occur, it was a one-time thing.
"You ready?" Henry, my second, interrupts my thoughts from the door of my room. I nod at him as I glance at him through the mirror, fixing my hair until it's perfect, because a man needs to look good at all times.
Tonight, it's even more important to look my best because I'm going to dinner at my parents' house. Who knows what will occur? My Da says he has an announcement and wants everyone tomeet at the house. The concept makes my stomach turn at the thought, because anytime Da has something to say it's never good.
The last time he called everyone to have dinner together, he told me to marry Suri, that neither of us had a choice. It didn't matter to him that she's in love with my younger brother, and the feeling is mutual. To Da none of our feelings matter. Especially given the fact, I don't want to be with a woman who isn't even attracted to me. The only thing that matters is the family, it comes first, over everything. It's the family motto.
"What do you think this is going to be about?" I ask, walking out the bedroom door, Henry following me.
"Who knows? But it's weird that he asked me to join," he states.
"The whole thing feels off," I agree with him. It could be big or nothing at all.
We make our way to the garage climbing into my Aston Martin—my favorite car. I've been into cars my whole life, another timeI would've done something with them, but there is no reason to dwell on what could've been if I wasn’t born into the O'Sullivan family.
Backing out of the driveway, Henry and I make our way to my parents' house, neither of us speaking, both of us stewing in our own heads, trying to figure out what could come out of tonight.
Where I live in the center of the city, my family has a house out in the suburbs. It takes us almost an hour to get out there, pulling into the driveway right on time. Henry and I get out of the car heading straight to the front door, pausing only for a moment, before I push it open.
"How come it's so quiet?" Henry asks, looking down the hall.
"I don't know. Something feels weird," I reply, feeling a wave uneasiness washes over me. "Let’s try the dining room," I tell him taking steadysteps toward it.
Pushing the door open, I peer into the room and find it filled with tension. Brendan is sitting at one end of the table with my parents down at the other end. "What's going on?" I ask, stepping into the room.
All three of them turn toward me looking bewildered when they hear my voice "What is going on here?" I ask.
My mother is the first to say something. "Why don't you and Henry come in and have a seat, sweetheart?"
I make a beeline for the seat that is the closest to me, falling down into it. Henry takes a small step into the dining room, softly closing the door behind him. That's why he's the perfect secondhand man—he always knows what to do without me even saying anything. He can read a room like anyone else.
No one says anything for a moment. My body tenses, trying to prepare for the worst, when my Da finally opens his mouth and it’s obvious he's angry.
"We were going to talk about how I’m retiring and how to transition everything over to you," he begins, spit shooting out of his mouth with every word. Da hits the table then points at my brother across the table. "But bozo over there wants to leave the family and marry that girl."
My brow raises at that last comment. I assume he means Suri, since that's the only possibility. I swing my head over to Brendan who is sitting there smug, telling me that my instincts are right.
"You want to marry Suri," I state, because it could only be her, if he’s talking marriage.
"Yes. I will marry Suri, no matter what you two have to say," he sneers, pointing between my father and me.
My father doesn't say anything, making me look over at him. His face is turning red, and the longer he doesn't speak, the darker it gets. I can't help but think that this is the moment—my brother is going to kill our father with his demands and I'm going tohave to take over the business, instead of transitioning.
Thankfully, Da begins to speak—or shout, I suppose—allowing him to take in air.At least he won't die from lack of oxygen. "We have already announced that Suri will be marrying Kieran. How are we supposed to face everyone? How are we supposed to tell the Johnson Family?" he yells across the table.
Right at that moment, Da's phone rings, he looks down at the screen. Answering it, he demands, "What?"
For a moment he doesn't say anything, just listens intently to whoever is talking on the other line. Suddenly, he hangs up the phone and narrows his eyes at my brother. "Fine. But there has to be consequences."
