"No, I'm not." Valentina folds her arms. "Quinn, you've never seen Lorenzo genuinely angry. Trust me, if he'd seen these messages, somebody would be having a very bad day."
I shake my head. "You're all insane."
"Possibly."
"Possibly?" I repeat with a grin.
She shrugs. "It's a Mariano family trait."
I laugh despite myself and for the first time since I picked up my phone this morning, the tightness in my chest eases.
Valentina's smile softens. "Quinn, none of what she's saying is true."
I look away. "Some of it feels true."
"No." Her voice is firm. "Your parents failed you. You are not to blame for their behavior. You didn’t ruin their lives, you were a blessing, one that they didn’t truly appreciate."
I wish I could believe that, but growing up in that house the way I did, without love or affection shows me otherwise.
"You're not second best," Valentina says quietly. "And one day you're going to stop letting her convince you that you are."
She’s right. I've spent so long being compared to Daire, being told I wasn't enough, wasn't pretty enough, wasn't smart enough, wasn't wanted enough, that sometimes I don't even question it anymore. I just accepted it.
I stare down at the tea in my hands. I wish I knew how to stop letting it affect me.
I hear laughter as Val and I exit the library. I look at her with wide eyes.
"Is that Marco laughing?" I ask. "I don't think I've ever heard him do that before."
Valentina grins. "Miracles happen."
Another burst of laughter reaches us and I immediately recognize the voice responsible.
Caden.
My heart does a stupid little leap.
"That's my brothers."
"That would explain the noise," Val says dryly.
I roll my eyes and head for the entrance hall.
Caden spots me first. "Quinny."
I barely get a word out before he wraps his arms around me. "Jesus," I laugh. "Hello to you too."
"How are you?" he asks as he steps back.
"Good."
His eyes narrow. "I'm serious."
I grin at him, he’ll never stop being overprotective. "So am I."
He studies me for a second before nodding. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
