“Then, you’re right. We have to fix that.”
I wrap my arm around her and pull her close.
I intend to.
“He looks so much like Colt.” I smile and turn to look at Penelope as she watches Asher play with Sebastian outside of my mom’s house. We just pulled up, and I have to admit I’m fucking nervous.
My mom was happy to help though, inviting Vivienne and Sebastian over today.
“Come on, Linc. I’ll hold your hand the whole time.”
I smirk, and we climb out of the car, walking to the front yard where Ash is tossing a ball to our two-year-old nephew.
My brother’s eyes meet mine with the same fury as the last time I saw him. He looks good. He’s grown in the last two years and actually might stand an inch over me now. Maybe.
His hair isn’t as unruly as it once was, now styled and perfect and it’s gotten slightly darker.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I’ve been a shit uncle, I know. But I want to get to know him.”
Ash shakes his head, looking over at the boy. “No. You don’t get to just come into his life whenever you feel like it, Linc.”
“I know you’re pissed, and I get it. But I’m here now.”
He shakes his head bitterly. “So like you. Here when you want to be.”
Penelope stands at my side, slipping her small hand into mine. “That’s not fair. We’ve all grown up a lot. He’s changed.”
Asher’s eyes look down at our hands and then back at me. “Oh, this is happening now? That’s just great. Does Mom know?”
“Yes.” We all look toward the front door as my mom walks out. “They told me on the phone a couple of weeks ago, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Ash looks flabbergasted, and I’m sure he feels the gut punch. My mom was happy when we told her, and I see the joy on her face as she joins us.
“That’s a real nice way to honor my brother.” His eyes lock ferociously on P.
And I grab his attention. “Watch it. We love each other and have for a long time. But we loved him more.”
“Yeah, right. I saw just how you loved him.”
He takes off inside the house, and P and my mom lock concerned eyes as Penelope’s hand moves from mine to my shoulder. “Just let him go. It will be okay.”
“No.” I kiss her lips quickly. “I did that last time.
I follow Ash inside, passing Vivienne, who’s sitting on the sofa and find him in the kitchen, his hands grasping the edge of the granite counter of the island in the middle. I’m taking a cue from P and just getting it all out there. “Did you see something? When we were all younger?”
“You mean you and Penelope? Her cheating on Colt?”
“She didn’t cheat.” I take another step into the kitchen. “They broke up. And you weren’t there.” He has to be bluffing.
“You mean prom night?”
Well, fuck. “How do you know about that?”
“I was there. I caught a ride with Johnny.” That fucker was in Colt’s class but hung out more often with Ash.
“What did you see?”
“Why, Linc? You want to try to lie about it?”
I shake my head and stand on the opposite side of the island, looking him in the eye. “No. I just want it all out there.”
“I saw you follow her down the hallway and then pull her into Mom and Dad’s bedroom. And you guys didn’t come out for a long time.” He’s angry, and I don’t blame him. I’d be pissed if the situation were reversed for many reasons. “He was there. In the same house. You fucked her under the same roof.”
“I know. Maybe it wasn’t right, but I’m not sorry.”
“Of course, you’re not. You’re never fucking sorry for anything.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m fucking sorry that Colt would be crushed. But no, I’m not sorry. I don’t want to lose another brother. But for P, I will. I love her. I’ve always loved her.”
“He was still alive.” I recognize the pain in my little brother’s eyes, and it guts me.
“I know. And I wish he still was.”
He scoffs, gesturing toward the front of the house. “Why? Now you get his girl.”
“She was never his.”
He looks pained by my statement, but I need him to hear it. And I hear Penelope and my mom enter the kitchen, but I don’t look behind me.
“Linc . . .”
I hear Penelope’s warning and turn to her, knowing they all need to hear it, including her. “You were never his. You loved him. I know that, but you were always trying to be his Sweet Pea.” My eyes lock on hers. “But you never were.”
I see my mom starting to look uneasy, but she doesn’t interrupt me.
I walk across the kitchen to P when her eyes drop to the floor. I use my hand to lift her chin. “You always had an edge like me. You’ve always been strong.” As far as I’m concerned, Penelope and I are the only two in the room as I look into her beautiful blue eyes. “And you’ve always been mine. You just didn’t know it.”
Her smile is sad as I lay a kiss on her lips and turn to my mother.
“But we did love Colt.”
She nods. “I know you did. We all did.” She moves to my side, placing a hand on my shoulder. “And I always worried about this. Seeing you two and the looks, seeing the love. And loving both of my sons,” she turns to P, “and Penelope.”
Penelope tears up. “I didn’t want to cause any of you pain.”
My mom smiles and stands in front of P, brushing her cheek with her hand. “Oh Penelope, you didn’t. You loved both of my boys with everything you had. You showed them both who they were, and I know Colt struggled deeply with demons I should have helped him with before it was too late. But sweet girl, he didn’t give you the love you deserved. He wasn’t able to.”
“How can you say that? He was going to marry her?”
My mom turns to Ash. “You’re young. Very young. And stubborn, but believe me, marriage does not always equal love. Colt did love her, and he was an incredible man, but he wasn’t ready for her.”
“So, Colt’s dead, and Linc gets the girl. And we’re all supposed to be happy with this?”
My mom smiles sadly. “Colt would want us to be. He was one of the kindest people I ever knew. Sadly, he was too much like me, always wanting to make everything perfect. But life is messy, Asher. You’ll see.”
Asher shakes his head, turning angrily and going into the backyard.
My mom’s eyes close briefly, and then she takes a deep breath, looking at P and me. “I love your love. I hate that Colt is gone, and as a mother, I can’t believe that was fate because he should be here.” My mother and P are softly crying, but my mom remains strong. “Still, I do believe with all of my heart that it’s you two that should be together. I saw it from the beginning. You have a love that will last.”
Penelope wipes a tear. My mom cups her face in her hands, and I see the love she has for her, that they share for each other. “Don’t ever hang your head in shame or tell yourself you’re not good enough. We weren’t good enough for you. You made us better, Penelope. And I’m forever grateful for that.”