Beautifully Destroyed (Beautifully Broken)

“Are you twins?” Dad asks David and Josh.

Josh lets out a chuckle. “No. David’s a year younger than me.”

My eyes drift to Finlay. She’s got her body turned sideways and practically glued to her father. Half her face is hidden in his shirt, the other half covered by a curtain of silky strands.

My heart squeezes, and I have a sudden urge to grab hold of her slender arm and yank her to my chest.

Clearing my throat, I quickly walk toward the back door to put some space between me and the girl that’s starting to mess with my mind.

I find Eli in the kitchen where he’s just sneaked a bite of Dad’s cobb salad. “Busted,” I chuckle. Opening the fridge, I grab a beer and pop the lid off. “You ready to propose?”

Eli nods as he swallows. “You know what to do, right?” he asks me for the hundredth time.

“Yeah. When you give me the thumbs-up, I’ll play the song, and you’ll do your thing. Not hard to forget.”

He takes a deep breath, his features tightening with nerves.

“Relax. Quinn loves you. There’s no way she’ll say no,” I try to reassure my brother.

I grab the portable speaker and head back outside. I’m relieved to see Josh and David have both taken a seat, Quinn and Finlay sticking close to their fathers.

I hope I have the same relationship with my daughter as the Drakes have with theirs. If I ever have a daughter.

Reaching Dad, I place the speaker on the camping table we’ve set up next to the grill.

Dad’s eyes lock on my face, and I feel him searching for the reason I was upset yesterday.

“Mom told you?” I murmur softly.

“Of course,” he says, his eyes sharpening on me. “What happened?”

I shrug. “Just had an altercation with Mrs. Chapel.”

Dad’s chin lifts, and a threatening look tightens his features as he goes into protective mode. “Tell me.”

I shake my head and glance around us, pausing to check if there’s any sign of Eli by the back door. He said he’d come out in ten minutes.

“Not here,” I whisper.

“You’re okay, though?” Dad asks, concern dropping his voice low.

I nod. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Quinn gets up from her chair, and Eli darts into view, giving me a quick thumbs-up.

“We should play some music,” I say loud enough to draw Quinn’s attention to me. Bringing the song up, I connect to the speaker and press play.

“That’s my and Eli’s song,” Quinn exclaims, her smile widening.

That’s my part done.

Dad turns to watch as Eli stops behind Quinn, dropping to his knee.

I almost chuckle at the sight of my brother kneeling but swallow it back.

While Eli proposes, my gaze moves to Finlay. There’s a strained expression on her face, her eyes locked on that damn weed next to her sneaker.

There’s no sign that she’s taking in what’s going on around her. Not even her cousin getting proposed to can bring a smile to her face.

It’s so fucking weird. It feels like there could’ve been more between us in another life. But as I stare at her, everything in me knows to stay away from her. Something bad must’ve happened to Finlay, and I’ll do more harm than good.

Shaking my head, I turn my attention back to Eli and Quinn just as she kisses the living shit out of my brother.

We all start to cheer, Dad and Mom looking happy and proud of Eli.

Yeah, my brother chose a good woman to spend his life with.

Everyone starts to congratulate the newly engaged couple, and I hang back until it looks like Mom and Quinn are about to ugly cry.

Stepping closer to them, I say, “Don’t I get a hug?” Seeing Eli out of the corner of my eye, I playfully add, “Wouldn’t mind one of those I love yous either.”

“Don’t push your luck,” my brother warns me playfully.

I hug Quinn, and knowing how possessive Eli is, I ask, “How long do you think Eli will let me hold you before he smacks me upside the head?”

Quinn starts to chuckle, and feeling my brother come up behind me, I whirl around and shove Quinn into his arms before darting away from him, laughter bursting over my lips.

I love teasing Eli, but one of these days, he might just slap me upside the head.

When everyone settles down again, I help Dad grill the steaks. The food’s almost ready when I notice Josh handing David a set of keys. Without a word, David grips Finlay tightly and walks to the back door.

They’re leaving early, and it only solidifies the worry for Finlay inside my chest.

Chapter 8

FINLAY

I somehow keep it together while Dad helps me to quickly pack my clothes. His movements are hurried, his demeanor telling me he already knows something terrible has happened, and he wants to get me to Uncle Josh’s house as fast as possible.