AIDEN
I stare at the fire.Ryder and Hawk sit nearby, occasionally stoking the logs underneath. The flames lick the flesh from the body parts we’ve thrown in. It smells fucking awful, like BBQ with something off about it.
Jaxon isn’t here, but he’s all I can think about right now. He never gave a shit who knew his secret. He’s been in love with his sister for years. He showed the signs when they were just kids, fighting to survive the hell we were in at school and in our personal lives. But they had it rough—especially Dahlia. Yeah, I might’ve said it weirded me out, but in my defense, I believed it was the right thing to say—the normal thing to say. It’s okay for my best friend to be in love with his half-sister.
What’s not okay is for me to be in love with my foster sister. That’s how the world works and how it’s always been for me.
I want to be with Nova. I’m so madly and deeply in love with her that it hurts thinking about her because I know I’ll never really have her. Not like Jaxon has Dahlia.
Nova is still talking to Brandon, intending to date him seriously. And I’ve watched from the front-row seat as they’ve grown closer, forming a stronger bond every day. I’ve been a fucking idiot by telling her the things to say and do to make him want her.
But it’s for the best, because she can’t be mine.
If I make Nova mine, I’ll wind up hurting her. I’ll fuck up somewhere, by turning off my emotions or saying something stupid, and I’ll chase her away. She’ll end our relationship.
I blink, remembering Hawk and Ryder are sitting here and that I have something to get off my chest.
“Not gonna lie, you guys.” I sigh and place my hands on my hips. My heart pounds against my chest from what I’m about to admit next. “I’m kind of jealous of Jaxon, and not for the reason you think.”
Hawk’s and Ryder’s stares burn a hole in the back of my head, heavy with judgement that makes my skin crawl. I don’t face them—not after dropping a bomb like being jealous of Jaxon.
“I like how he doesn’t give a flying fuck what anyone thinks.” I pull out my disposable vape, drawing in a long inhale of the pink-lemonade flavor. “Love is love, right?”
I drag in another lungful of the sweet vapor and blow it out with a shake of my head. It’s not enough to get rid of the suffocating feeling of the thorn-covered vines squeezing my throat, making it harder to breathe. I turn to my friends, my eyebrows pinched together and lips flattened.
Ryder and Hawk stare at me with guarded expressions.
Stop talking, Aiden. Don’t dig your grave any deeper, man.
“I keep thinking about what I’d do if I fell in love with Nova.” Panic flares in my chest, and I school my features, hoping my friends didn’t catch my slip. “You guys have sisters. What would you do if you caught feelings?”
Hawk snorts. “It’ll never happen.”
I’ve said too much.
Act normal, Aiden.
“So you’re telling me you wouldn’t fuck your hot-as-hell sister?” I jab my tattooed finger in Hawk’s direction.
He waves his hands by his head, frustrated and likely disgusted by me. “No! What the fuck?”
“Technically, she isn’t even your sister. She’s adopted,” I say. “So you still wouldn’t get your dick wet with her?”
Shut up. Quit pushing and hoping they have the same feelings about their sisters so you don’t feel so goddamn alone.
“Same applies to you about your foster sister. Would you fuck her?” Hawk snaps.
My mouth slams shut.
“Exactly, fucker,” Hawk says with another wave of his hand.
Ryder wanders to the cooler and grabs a chilled beer.
“I didn’t say shit.” I smirk. “But I just wanna know why you’re getting so defensive about a simple question.”
Hawk rolls his eyes and huffs. “It’s a weird fucking question, bro.”
My lip curls in a snarl. “So do you think Jaxon is weird for fucking his sister?”
