“What?” Whenever she does something that could be considered uncouth, Mom flusters. “They haven’t brought the second course. It would be rude to disappear on the girls.”
“Thegirls,”I tell her coolly, “would be lucky not to cross my path right now.”
Her protests fall on deaf ears, but the relief on Eliza’s face, more than anything, seals my decision. Outside, the city hums, loud and alive, and the rush under my skin settles into something like resolve.
Alone at the penthouse, Eliza doesn’t wait to pounce. “What was that about?”
I certainly don’t want to tell her what I overheard in the bathroom. “Do you know when Carter is coming back?”
“Very subtle, Jackie.” She returns from the kitchen with two steaming cups of tea. “Tomorrow, I think.”
He’s been more hands-on with Logan since the car chase. Traveling around all the Rawlings facilities, securing the labs, and reinforcing the new headquarters. Protecting everyone. Protecting me.
The soft couch cushion swallows me whole. “I’m sorry for keeping Carter away from you.” This tea is heavenly. Bet it’s from her garden. “You should be getting ready for the wedding, not babysitting me.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I meet her warm eyes, fierce under scrunched brows. “You, personally, are a target. We’ll protect you and make sure nothing like this ever happens again.”
Her arms come around my shoulder, her head resting lightly on top of mine. “I love you, Jackie. You’re my sister.”
She gives love so freely, and it settles in my chest so gingerly that my nose begins to sting. Bringing her into my life is the best gift my brother ever gave me. Her embrace feels like the safest place to be vulnerable. To finally admit to myself, I’m scared.
I grip her arm and fold into her, letting myself lean on her. Constantly proving I’m strong enough, smart enough, takes more out of me than I let them see.
We sit in silence for a while, until the heaviness in my chest begins to ease. When my muscles relax, and I don’t feel so brittle anymore, I finally let go and manage a small smile.
“Where are you with the planning? Haven’t seen you having a meltdown over the binders lately.”
Eliza looks past the large windows, into the skyline. “Carter was apparently serious when he agreed to my idea,” she says quietly. “I hope Clara won’t hate me too much for wanting a backyard wedding.”
Laughter bubbles out of me. “It’ll be beautiful. Don’t you worry your pretty head about Mom. She needs to learn to get her priorities straight.”
“I was thinking about something else, too.” She hesitates, then twists her fingers into her lap. “We should get a prenup.”
My brother is always calculated, and it’s not uncommon in our circles. I approach the subject cautiously. “Did he suggest it?”
She shakes her head, strands flying in every direction. “No.” She worries her lip, less bubbly than before. “But after meeting your friends today…” She trails off.
I shake my head. “Hardly friends.”
“I’m not eating bad canned beans anymore.” She waves her hand in the air, grasping for the right words. “But there’s still a huge gap. I want Carter to trust my feelings for him.”
It takes me aback. I study her, struck by how much she means it. “I didn’t think it was an issue.”
“Not now…But I don’t want to risk another misunderstanding. All I want is for us to be happy.”
When she puts it like that, love sounds so simple. I mean, there was nothing easy about their story. They fought like hell to find their way back together. And when they did, they just chose each other. No games, no pride.
“My brother might be a lot of things. Arrogant. Stubborn. Overbearing. A shit tennis player.” I count on my fingers, and Eliza lights up with amusement. “But I doubt there’s anything else in this life more important to him than seeing you happy.”
“But—”
“Don’t make this decision on your own.” I plop back on the couch, staring at the Lasvit chandelier glinting above us. “God knows it didn’t work out for me.”
The first time true regret hit me like a punch to the gut was by Carter’s hospital bed, after he woke up. Adam was there. Steady and warm. Keeping us afloat. It reminded me of everything I’d loved about him.
Eliza’s voice scatters my thoughts. “Are we finally talking about why you and Adam broke up?”
There’s no point in avoiding the conversation again. “Did he tell you anything?”
