“Bianca?” he says after what feels like an eternity.
“Yeah?”
“He was wrong.”
His voice is so low I almost don’t hear him.
“What?”
I need to make absolutely certain I understand what he’s saying.
His expression is pained as he repeats himself. “He was wrong.” He blows out a breath. “Hell, Bianca. There were a lot of people who were at fault that night. Dylan for playing Liam and going to the dance with him. Jace for never coming clean about his feelings for Dylan…but mostly, it was Tommy.” Finally, he looks at me. “He never should have bullied him.” Sincerity laces his voice. “And for what it’s worth, I am really sorry about what happened to your brother. It sounds like he was a great person.”
My heart folds in on itself. He was.
I’m so stunned by Stone’s heartfelt admission; I almost drop my ladle.
Even though what he said was the truth, I know how hard it must have been for him to acknowledge it.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice shaky with emotion. “I…uh. That means a lot.”
It also makes these feelings I have for him stronger.
He turns back to his mashed potatoes. “And just so we’re clear I didn’t just say it to make you talk to me again. I really meant—”
“Do you want to hang out tonight?” I blurt out.
I can’t help wanting to be around him.
Especially now that I know he stands on the right side of things.
His grin is devious. “Well, I’ll be damned. Are you asking me out on a date, Bianca Covington?”
“Maybe.” I give him a coy smile of my own. “It depends.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “On?”
“Whether or not you say yes.”
Please say yes.
He shrugs a shoulder. “Sorry, can’t tonight.”
Well, that backfired.
Swallowing down a lump of disappointment, I utter. “Oh.” I look down at the pan of gravy. “I under—”
“I already have plans to watch Bourne Identity with this girl I’m crazy about after work.”
I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face if I tried.
There’s only one problem with our impending plans.
I shoot my gaze to Sawyer, who’s happily humming Christmas songs and carving up slices of turkey.
Something tells me she’s also the kind of girl who likes to leave her Christmas lights up till February.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell Stone before I hobble over to where she is.
“I need a favor.”
She looks up. “Don’t worry. I’ve got everything under control. Alfonso—the chef—is making more gravy and—”
“I don’t need more gravy. I need you to cover for me while I hang out with Stone tonight.”
Her eyes become saucers. “Say what now?”
“He admitted Tommy was wrong.”
She stops carving the turkey. “Okay—”
“Stone’s a good guy, Sawyer. You even said so yourself. And I know it doesn’t make any sense but I really, really, really like him.”
“Really?”
I stifle a groan. “Sawyer.”
She wipes her hands on a towel. “I don’t know. I hate lying. Especially to Cole. After my heart attack, I promised him I’d never lie—”
“Please,” I beg. “Besides, it’s not like this is a bad lie. I’m just going to Stone’s apartment to watch a movie. I’ll be gone three hours tops.”
She wrings her hands. “I really don’t want to lie, Bianca.”
“I know, but you know how overprotective Jace and Cole are. They’ll lose their minds if they find out I’m hanging out with Stone, which really isn’t fair because he’s a good guy. Plus, I thought we were friends?”
If that doesn’t convince her to help me out, I don’t know what will.
“We are friends.” She wafts the air with her hands, like she’s trying to take in more air. “Fine. I will cover for you. I’ll just tell your brothers you...” Her brows crash together. “Wait a minute. It’s Thanksgiving night. Nothing is open.”
Crap.
Thinking fast, I utter, “What about the library? You can tell them I’m studying.”
She blinks. “I’m pretty sure it’s closed.”
“Yeah, but would Cole know that?”
Cole is far from dumb, but it’s no secret that—unlike his fiancée—he prefers sports to academics.
She thinks about this for a moment. “Probably not.” She shakes her head. “But Jace might.”
Freaking Jace. The boy is a sleuth.
I think about this for a bit and decide the best thing to do is stay as close to the truth as possible.
“Tell them I’m hanging out with a guy from school.” I give her a wry smile. “Technically it’s not a lie…just a little omission.”
She gives me a pointed look. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure telling either of them that you’re hanging out with some random guy from school will go over like a fart in church.”
She has a point.
“Tell them it’s a girl.” I snap my fingers when it comes to me. “Her name is Mercedes.”
Turns out the brat is useful after all.
“Fine.” She casts her gaze at Stone who’s listening in on our conversation with expressed interest. “But there’s no way you can have Stone drop you off later because if they see him, they’ll lose their shit.” She rubs her temples. “I’ll pick you up at his apartment and bring you home.” She points two fingers at her eyes and then at Stone. “You’ve got three hours, DaSilva. Don’t make me regret it.”
Stone places his hand over his heart. “I’ll be the perfect gentleman. You have my word.”
Leaning my crutches against the wall, I throw my arms around her. “You’re the best. I’m so happy we’re gonna be sisters.”
“Me too.” She worries her bottom lip between her teeth. “And as your future big sister, I’m going to give you some serious advice.”
“What’s that?”
“You need to tell your brothers about Stone. Sooner rather than later.”
“I will.”
Eventually.
Chapter 21
“I get why you called me Jason Bourne now,” I tell Stone. “It’s exactly like that.”
We’re currently sprawled out on the futon in his bedroom watching the credits roll.
Dark eyes assess me. I’m not sure what he sees, but it has his expression turning sad. “Damn. It must be really hard.” He inhales deeply. “It would drive me crazy not knowing things that happened or what shaped me into the person I am today.”
He’s not exactly wrong.
Only everything I find out about the former me makes me dislike myself.
“Yeah, but…” I stop talking because I don’t have the courage to say it. Plus, I’m scared he won’t understand. “Never mind.”
He tips my chin, forcing me to look at him. “What?”