Dirty Little Secret

“I love you too.” She offers me a watery smile. “But I hate coming between y’all.”

“You won’t. I know it feels like it now, but give him time to cool down, okay? He’s feeling betrayed, and I get it. But you know your brother... he’s a hothead. He needs time, okay?”

She breathes out a shaky exhale. “Okay.”

“Are you ready to head to your appointment?”

Stella nods.

“Wait here and I’ll grab your stuff. Are you sure you have a ride to campus?”

“Yeah, Mom’s coming to get me. Crazy lady got a sub and everything just so she could come to this appointment with me.” Stella’s entire body goes ramrod straight. “Do you think she’ll say something if she sees me get out of your truck?”

“Luna,” I say her name softly. “If Orion hasn’t already told her, she’ll know soon enough. Not to mention, your mother loves me. But if you want…” I swallow roughly, hating the words I’m about to speak before they even pass my lips. “…I can drop you off a bit down from the door.”

Immediately, she shakes her head no. “You can drop me off at the door, and if she says anything, I’ll just tell her like it is.”

I can’t help but smile at her reply. “And how is it, Luna?”

“That we’re together.”

“In love.”

“No matter what they say.”

She leans into me. “It’s you and me.”

“Always.” For fucking always, Luna.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Samson

After dropping Stella off at her ortho appointment, I call Orion—unsurprisingly, he sends me straight to voice mail.

He can try to avoid me all he wants, but I know him like the back of my hand, and I will find his surly ass and make him talk this out with me.

Because while I meant it when I said I’d choose Stella over him, I’m damn sure going to do everything in my power to avoid having to choose.

Orion’s more than my best friend—he’s like a brother to me… the family I never had.

But Stella… she’s the fucking air I breathe.

I try Orion’s number again as I drive past his house—voice mail again.

He thinks he can hide from me, but he’s definitely in one of three places. And seeing as it’s barely noon, I highly doubt he’s at ATF or Bandits, which means he’s at his parents’ house.

At least I hope he is, because I’m really not trying to hash this out with some chick’s naked ass shaking in my peripheral.

Sure enough, when I pull into their driveway, Orion’s truck is parked right next to his dad’s. I park perpendicular to their tailgates, blocking them both in.

It might make me an asshole, but he’s going to talk to me, one way or another.

I rap my knuckles against the front door before pulling it open. I don’t see them, but I can hear them and follow the sound of their voices into the kitchen, where Orion’s pacing like a caged animal.

“I was wondering when you’d show up,” Michael says, nodding his head in greeting.

“You’re not welcome here,” Orion says, jerking to a stop directly in front of me.

“Am I not?”

“Not anymore,” he spits the words, anger lacing every syllable.

“Now, son—”

“Don’t you now son me—do you even know what he did?”

“I know he’s like family, not just to you, but to all of us, and the way you’re speaking to him isn’t how we speak to family.”

Orion scoffs. “Yeah, he feels really brotherly toward Stella.”

“Look,” I start, “I know you’re mad—”

“You’re damn right I’m mad. You went behind my back. With my sister.”

“Son, what part are you mad about?”

“Huh?” Orion’s eyes narrow in confusion.

“Are you mad that Samson’s seeing Stella, or are you mad they weren’t upfront with you about it?”

Mr. Cartwright poses a good question—and if I had to guess, he’s more upset about being kept in the dark than he is our actual relationship.

“I…” He starts pacing again. “I don’t know.”

“Listen, you’re like the brother I never had.” I drag out a barstool and plant myself on it. “And that means something to me. I don’t have any family or loved ones outside of y’all. I just happen to love your sister a little differently.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, but press on. “I get that we could have gone about things a little better, but we did what felt right at the time for us. We never meant to hurt you.”

“You lied to me. You’ve been lying to me. For years.” He turns to his dad. “You’re really okay with this?”

He nods. “I couldn’t think of a better man for my Stelli Bear.”

“And you’re okay with the fact that they were basically together in secret before she could even drive?” Orion crosses his arms over his chest and smirks, like he’s played a trump card.

But Michael just laughs. And laughs. And laughs.

“What in the hell is so funny?” Orion shouts.