“How did you manage to keep that a secret? You’ve never mentioned him before. Do I know who he is?” I pause before scowling. “And Wes isn’t letting me do anything. He’s too busy playing king of the castle to search for me.”
He laughs gruffly. “That was on purpose, Elle. I’m more surprised that he heard about the party tonight and came at the risk of getting tossed out on his ass. Clearly, he’s flown under the radar.”
“Why didn’t you kick him out?”
“He’s my brother. I’ll let someone else do it. It won’t be long now, I’m sure. He’ll be boasting about hockey any minute.”
My brows climb my forehead. “Liking hockey isn’tentirelya death sentence.”
“It is when he plays professionally.”
“You let an NHL player into my brother’s house?” I laugh, unable to hold it in.
“I didn’t let him do anything; he snuck his way in like a snake. Someone will give him a swift kick out the door soon enough.”
I shrug, falling back into my head. It’s impossible to stay distracted tonight. My phone hasn’t buzzed in a while now, which means Roman’s stopped calling. Probably given up already. Why wouldn’t he? I’ve shut that door, and instead of talking things through like an adult, I’ve been hiding behind it, too embarrassed to do much else.
Embarrassed. Yeah, sounds about right.
“Can I ask you something? You can’t bring it up to anyone else. Especially my brother.”
“Does it relate to why you’re out here hiding from everyone?”
I roll my eyes. “Just say yes.”
“Yes, Brielle. My lips are zipped.”
Staring at the still, calm water, I lower my voice. “Have you ever kept something hidden from a person you care about because you were scared that you’d lose them if they knew?”
Kellan takes so long to answer that I almost tell him to forget it. My skin crawls with discomfort before he clears his throat.
“Yes. Why?”
I shake my head and palm my bare thighs, gently squeezing them. “I kept a secret from someone, and I’ve spent weeks beating myself up for it and debating how to tell them the truth. But it turns out they knew the entire time.”
“Isn’t that good, then? That lets you off the hook.”
“It isn’t that simple.”
He knocks his knee against mine, encouraging me to look at him. I do and immediately feel a burn behind my eyes. The blunt care that fills his features is too much for my heart to handle right now. Kellan and I aren’t even close by any means, but he’s still family. The same way Finn, Jett, and Beck are.
From the moment I met these guys, I knew they’d become my brothers. Wes is the reason I have these men in my life and why I found Aubrey, the sister that I wish I’d known long before we met. The stubborn little shit gave me a family, and I hate him for that right now as much as I love him for it.
Kellan’s voice shifts slightly, becoming firmer, demanding. “Tell me what’s going on, Elle. I know you usually talk this shit out with Beck, but he’s sloshed and doing who knows what. I promise that I can keep a secret better than he can.”
“Leave it to you to turn it into a competition,” I choke.
He drops a hand behind him and leans back a bit as his attention stays fixed on me, waiting.
“I swear, Kellan, you can’t tell anyone. Especially Wes.”
“You’ve got my word.”
“Fuck.” I close my eyes for a second before opening them and staring out at the view of the ocean and the thousands of twinkling lights of the city. “Okay. I’m?—”
There’s a pointed cough behind us. I immediately bite my tongue, feeling naked and exposed with this explanation half a second from escaping me. Kellan moves first, twisting to look at who interrupted us.
When he turns back around and drops a heavy hand to mine, I find his waiting eyes. They’re sparkling with knowledge, which only confuses me. He’s parted his lips to speak when the person behind us does first, sending the hair on my arms standing tall.
