He eats up the distance between the two of us. He is a good head taller than I am. Another annoyance I have with my brother.
Taller. Better at hockey. He took to hockey like a fish to water whereas I had to work harder to get ahead.
“Fuck you, Dax.”
“Get out.”
“Are you going to treat us like this and kick us out of your house?” Mom looks stunned, appalled.
“Yes.” I flit my gaze to her. “I am not going to sit here and let you treat the woman I love like this. Duncan is not the victim here, and if you believe him, then you’re not welcome here.”
“Dax.” Chloe grabs my arm.
“No. You can leave,” I say to them again.
“Seriously?” Duncan fires at me. “You’re choosing her over us?”
“There was never a choice.” I nod. “Now get out.”
Mom storms out, Dad following behind her.
Duncan gets dangerously close, voice dropping low. “This isn’t over.”
And then he’s gone.
“Fuck.”
Chloe pulls me in for a hug, squeezing me hard.
“Did that really just happen?”
“Yeah.”
She rests her chin in the center of my chest, staring up at me. She looks sick. “Are you really choosing me over your family?”
I tuck a loose strand of soft hair behind her ear. “There’s no question, Chloe. I really didn’t want to say it this way, but I love you. I’ve always loved you, and nothing Duncan or my parents say will change that. Truth is, I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember.”
“Say it again.”
“Which part?” I smile down at her, relief flooding my body.
“The part about you loving me.”
“That’s easy. I love you, Chloe Davis. And I will do everything in my power to protect you from whatever Duncan throws our way.”
“Do you think it’s going to get worse?”
I shrug a shoulder. “I don’t know, but with him, you never know. I mean, I never expected him to blatantly lie on TV like that.”
“So much for fact-checking.” Chloe snorts. “You know, you could be with anyone. Why me?”
“It was never a question for me, Chloe. It was always you. I don’t care what Duncan throws at us. I loveyou, Chloe.”
“I love you too, Dax. I realize I was never in love before. Duncan gave me just enough to think it was love, but it wasn’t. I know that now. Thanks to you.”
I crush my lips to hers, a surge of happiness washing over me. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy in my life before. Hearing Chloe utter those words is everything I’ve always wanted.
No matter what happens, as long as it’s the two of us, we can face it together. Face Duncan together.
