I nod again, choosing my words carefully. “Except, now we have a fourth member,” I say loosely.
Mom’s eyes fall to her cup, and only now I notice she has dark circles too. They’re not as prominent as mine, but enough to notice she probably spent most of the night crying. I feel terrible for not being a better daughter and supporting her.
“Mom, I’m guessing you didn’t have a great night either?”
She shakes her head, lips pursed just like mine. Sometimes it’s like looking in the mirror. Even the way her hands wrap around the mug exactly the way mine do. To top it off, she enjoys a strong, black coffee much like myself.
“Your only son comes home and tells you he’s married some girl after knowing her for around one minute. There goes your life-long dream of watching him get married, dressing up in some fancy suit and giving him away in front of family and friends. I don’t ask for much as a parent, Emmy, but promise me you won’t hide something that big from me.”
“I won’t, Mom,” I reassure her, hiding the guilt that riddles me.
What happened with Logan will never ever happen again, and as far as I’m concerned I wouldn’t class it as something big anyway. It’s a mere teeny tiny speck in our drama-filled lives.
Her eyes begin to tear up, so I quickly offer to change the subject to something more light-hearted.
“So, tell me, what’s your latest book about?”
The expression on her face immediately changes. When Mom’s asked about her writing or books, you can see the passion light up her face.
“It’s a messy love square. I know I might get some backlash from readers, but I can’t help but adore a good love square. Triangles are so done.”
“Fun to read not fun to be in.” I smile.
Mom begins to open her mouth when the back door bangs against the wall and the sound of Ash and Logan filter through the kitchen. I look up at the clock on the wall, it’s 7:30 a.m.
No!
There’s no time to escape.
So I stare at my bowl of cereal nervously swirling the Froot Loops around the bowl and dunking them in the milk.
“If it isn’t my overly opinionated sister. Ready to apologize yet?”
Thirty minutes ago, I was all about grabbing life by the balls. But when the guy who you’ve practically known your whole life—and is considered as family—is standing in the same room boring his eyes into you because he made you cum, those balls have shriveled up and climbed into your asshole for shelter.
“Of course, not. Stubborn as usual.” Ash laughs, grabbing a slice of bread and shoving it in his mouth with nothing on it.
My eyes are heavy, refusing to make eye contact. I raise them slowly hopeful Logan’s not looking my way. As every inch of my gaze passes, my stare traces over his muscular body, analyzing it like I’ve never seen it before. By the time our eyes meet, his wicked smirk irks me as I shift my gaze once again.
Asshole.
“Geez Emmy, you can’t even look at me. Yeah, I get it. I got married and didn’t tell you. Would you just give Sandy a chance?”
“Sandy?” I throw at him in amusement. “You nicknamed her Sandy? That’s so crass. Who are you? Danny Zuko?”
“Who the hell is Danny Zuko?”
I roll my eyes at my brother. Thank God stupidity isn’t contagious.
“Sounds like quite a night,” Mom interrupts. “How about we slow down on the drinking?”
“We were celebrating,” Ash claims. “At least, until Emmy ran off like a child and Logan had to save her. What the fuck were you thinking jumping into that lake? Have you not heard of all the shit lurking in those waters? Jesus Christ, Emmy!”
I swallow the giant lump in my throat. There’s no way Logan would have told Ash anything despite them being best friends. If Ash knew, he would have said something by now and Logan would be in the firing line.
Scrap that… Logan would be dead.
“I agree with your brother, silly move. Look at this bite on your neck?” Mom runs her finger across the mark that Logan left. I can feel my skin blushing, almost breaking out into hives as Mom scans her eyes over it.