“No.” My stomach twists. “He won’t react well.”
“Probably not.” She squeezes my hand. “But you should tell him. You shouldn’t hold important truths from people you love.”
“I know.” I look down at my hands. “But I have to figure out how and when.”
She’s quiet for a moment, then pulls me into a hug. I let myself sink into it for five seconds before pulling back.
“Just don’t wait too long.” Her hand squeezes my shoulder. “These things have a way of coming out when you least expect them.”
I need air. Or space. Or five minutes alone to process that my mother knows the truth.
“I’m going to use the restroom upstairs,” I tell her. “The main one is probably occupied.”
She nods, understanding more than I said.
I head for the stairs, taking them slowly. The upstairs hallway is quiet. Empty. I pause at the top of the stairs and let myself breathe.
There are footsteps behind me. I turn. Silas.
He closes the distance between us in three steps, backs me against the wall, and kisses me.
His hands frame my face, and his mouth is demanding, and I open for him immediately because I’ve been wanting this since the gala. Since the hotel. And maybe since I was a kid and had a crush on him. I have always wanted him—wanted them.
He pulls back just enough to speak, his forehead against mine.
“I don’t care about the rules anymore.”
My pulse is racing. “Silas, are you sure?”
“I want this.” His thumb brushes my bottom lip. “I want you.”
I can’t breathe. “What made you change your mind?”
His hand drags through his hair. “Ben has been like my brother since we were eight. Your mom helped raise us after ours died. I’ve watched you make Callum stop fighting everything. Make Evan stop hiding. And I’m the only one still standing outside of it.”
His knuckles press against his mouth. Then drop.
“I don’t know what will happen when we tell Ben. And this is hard, because I’ve spent my whole life knowing exactly what comes next. I don’t anymore.”
He closes the space he just created.
“But I want this. All of it. My brothers. Your family. You.” His hand slides along my jaw. “Mostly you.”
He kisses me again. Harder this time. His arm wraps around my waist, hauling me against him, and my spine meets the wall.
“But not now.” He releases me and steps back. “Not in Ben’s house. And I need to find the right way to tell him.”
“Okay,” I manage.
He looks at me for another moment, long enough that I feel it everywhere, then he heads back downstairs without another word.
I stand there against the wall, heart racing, lips still tingling, and realize everything just changed.
All three of them are mine now.
I take another minute to compose myself before heading to the bathroom. After taking a few deep breaths, I splash cold water on my face and try to look normal.
When I come back downstairs, my legs are steadier than they should be, but my hands are shaking when I reach the living room.
