Jack’s chest is heaving wildly as he stares at his sister.
“Jackson?” Her voice rises. “Why are you in Italy with Annabelle?”
I don’t miss the accusatory tone of her voice and neither does Jack, so he quickly glances over to me, shooting me an apologetic look. After all this, keeping it a secret so we can tell her together in person, we’re going to have to do it over the phone while she’s in a different country.
But he tries to distract her anyway.
“I’m not kidding, Sadie. After all he’s put us through, not to mention what he let mom do. He doesn’t get a pass.”
“What the hell is going on?” Wills’s voice booms through the computer. I can’t see the screen, but I can only imagine his confusion at all the yelling.
Sadie ignores him. “Jackson, I’ll ask you again. Why are you naked in Italy with Annabelle?”
Jack closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before walking to where I’m still in bed. He positions it so that we’re both in the picture, then hangs his arm over my shoulders.
I widen my eyes. “Surprise?”
20
Annabelle
Sadie narrows her eyes.“What do you mean,surprise?”
“Again, what the hell is going on out here?” Wills asks as he walks over to Sadie, lifts her, and places her on his lap.
He looks between us, confused, but clearly catches on much faster than his wife.
I look at Jack for guidance, unsure who should speak first. He nudges me in the leg, but I sit still and silent, nervous to hear their reaction.
I’m suddenly feeling sick with guilt over keeping our relationship a secret, let alone our marriage.
Jack must feel the tension radiating off of me, so he speaks first. Thankfully he got the clue, because I’m not usually one lost for words.
“The surprise is, Belle and I are together,” he says, lifting my shaky hand to kiss my wrist.
I could have done short and to the point. I thought he’d give a little more.
I look between Jack, Sadie, and Wills.
Wills is a statue and Sadie’s in shock, her eyes unblinking and wide like a deer in headlights.
“Liketogether, together?” Sadie whispers.
I nod. “Yeah. It’s not that we wanted to keep it from you, but we wanted to ensure it worked out before telling you all and risking screwing up our friend group. It’s not the same as meeting a random bloke at the pub. Your opinions matter to us.”
For a while, everyone’s quiet until Wills rubs Sadie’s back, spurring her on.
“I… I think I’m in shock, sorry.” She pauses. “For how long?”
The air drains from my lungs. Another question I’ve been dreading answering.
Jack opens his mouth to speak, but I squeeze his hand in a silent plea to let me explain this part.
He may be her brother, but a friendship like ours, which is more like a sisterhood, is meaningful in different ways. This is one of those things that should come from me.
“Why is it so difficult to answer the question?” Sadie’s voice starts to rise, sensing something’s off.
Wills glares between the two of us pointedly. He’s not happy to see Sadie upset, and by the way Jack tenses beside me, neither is he.
