SARAH “Hiding out here, Berry?” The cold night breeze blows past my face. I free my fingers from the sleeves of my shirt and tuck loose strands of my hair to the back of my eyes. I don’t look at him when a sigh escapes my lips. “No.” I say, shaking my head. “I’m not. It just feels hot inside.” “Yeah,” from the corner of my right eye, I watch him. Kevin nods, kissing his teeth. “Right.” He takes his place beside me on the steps of my front porch. I still don’t look at him, but I can tell he’s smiling when he throws his right arm over my shoulders, and kills the distance between us by pulling me in. “The thing is…I don’t believe you.” A tired sigh. “Kevin…” “Let me finish, Berry. You never want to be away from them, believe me. As someone who tried to tear you guys apart, that’s one thing I know for sure. If you’re out here while they’re in there, something is definitely wrong.” I tug on the hem of my shirt to keep my fingers busy as he speaks. My mind doesn’t waste any time drifting away from him. Am I really this predictable? The brothers had stayed with me for the rest of the day. After the news about Aaron, they must have unanimously decided to make sure I am not left alone. Which I loved, and would have enjoyed more if there wasn’t a whole kangaroo seated in my chest, dying to jump out, to be free, out there in the world. Seeing as Kevin is the one seated beside me instead of any of them, they must have realized they needed to give me space to figure myself out. I pull the sleeves of my shirt over my fingers. “I’m avoiding them.” He leans into me, perching his nose so close to my face, I find myself pulling away. “Why?” Kevin asks. “I don’t know.” I shrug my shoulders, earning myself a raised brow. Fine. I deserve this one. “Shit.” I spit the word out before turning to fully face him. I hope I can muster the courage needed to gear myself up to make the most embarrassing statement of my entire life. “Alright, I know why I’m avoiding them. I’m scared, okay? I feel like I want something they might not want, and it’s fucking scary. Shit is eating me up from the inside out.” “Shit,” Kevin’s face brightens, a wide grin stretching across each corner. “I can see that.” “Fuck you.” “Oh, come on.” He waves me off with more laughter. “I’m glad you find the predicament of my love life amusing.” “Who wouldn’t?” He laughs again, and I roll my eyes. It’s only a matter of seconds before his laughter dies, and we’re left listening to the songs of the crickets. He heaves a sigh. “This thing you want,” Kevin shifts his gaze to me. “What is it?” Do I tell him? To do that would be to pour myself out there, to be vulnerable. It’ll mean leaving room for my greatest desires to be scrutinized, judged, or whatever else he might do. He never wanted me with them in the first place. “You can talk to me, Berry.” His words come out with a silent plea. It’s as if he can read my mind. What do I really have to lose other than my dignity? I might have already lost that a long time ago, Aaron did his best to make sure of it. And now, I’m still finding it so hard to tell what loyalty is even when it’s staring me right in the eyes. Finally, I swallow the lump in my throat and let myself speak. “A family,” I mutter. “With them.” Kevin’s eyes twinkle with a smile. “Berry.” “I haven’t figured it out yet, fully. And it’s so strange to think about it, is it not? Three of them, one of me. What would people say?” His cautious gaze dances all over my face. “You’re spiraling.” Yes. True. My mouth is definitely moving faster than my brain—but that’s okay, seeing as my heart is the one doing the thinking right now. “I know. But think about it.” He shakes his head. “Berry…” “Am I going to remain a secret forever? Do they even want a family?” “They sure as hell want you.” “It’s not the same thing.” He doesn’t respond immediately. Kevin simply leans back against the higher step, kissing his teeth. “You’ve told them about the baby, haven't you?” I nod. “I have.” “And how did they react?” The image flashes in my mind, and my cheeks heat up with a smile. I see Ronan’s wide eyes, Malachi’s shocked face. I can remember the streaks of tears—tears of joy—pouring from Jaxon’s face as I kissed him, and the sweet love we made after. “They were elated.” The word barely covers it, but it should be enough for him to understand. Kevin tilts his head to the left. “Shouldn’t that tell you what you need to know?” Shaking my head, I press my eyelids shut. He’s right. There’s nothing, absolutely no reaction from them that’s said otherwise. Adjusting the collar of my shirt, I sit up. “I’m obsessed with taking things further, am I not?” Kevin chuckles lightly. “I find love to be a very shameless venture, Berry.” His gaze settles on me, both kind and caring. “You know you can talk to them about this, right?” I scoff. “Can I? Really?” Only because I don’t think they’ll understand. They might not get why this is so important to me. Honestly, I don’t think I do either. I just love them so much and want to be with them, but I don’t want to be a well kept secret, at the same time, I’m worried what the spotlight would do to our relationship. “That’s not a question you want me to answer.” I look away from him. It’s not, because I know the answer. But Kevin isn’t nearly finished. “The brothers aren’t Aaron, Sarah.” My throat stiffens. “I know that. I’ll never compare them.” “But you are.” He shifts on his spot. My hands curl into fists underneath my shirt. “Listen, I cannot sit here and pretend I understand what it is the three of you have.” “Gee. Thanks, Kev.” “But that’s the point. I shouldn’t have to understand. It’s your love and your life, and it doesn’t need to make sense to anyone else but you guys. And if you cared about this so much, you wouldn’t have gotten with them in the first place. You are so many things, Berry, but a fool certainly isn’t one of them.” I raise a brow. “How do you know that?” “You’re a Wellspring,” Kevin winks at me. “It’s not in our DNA.” “Fine,” I sit up straight. “I guess you’re right.” “Guess?” Kevin puts his right arm over my shoulder again. “You know I’m right.” Fuck. He really should have let me sulk a little bit more. Now that we’re done with this enlightening conversation, I have absolutely no excuse for my attempts to push the brothers away anymore. Which means… “Damn it. I’m such an idiot.” “Now, now. I wouldn’t say that.” Only because he’s my brother. “I should go talk to them.” “It’s about time.” My teeth grazes my lower lip as my mind races in thought. “This is so fucking embarrassing.” Kevin snorts. “What did I tell you, Berry? Love is a shameless venture.” I scramble to my feet. Kevin keeps his eyes glued on me with a wide grin plastered on his face. “Do yourself a favor and never fall in love.” His smile drops, and so do his shoulders. “You don’t have to tell me twice.” Pain flashes in his eyes, quick and sudden. It goes as quickly as it comes. Perhaps I imagined it. With that, I turn my back to him, open the door, and head back into the house. The brothers are all seated on a couch, eyes glued to the screen of their phones. Jaxon keeps scrolling, looking at nothing in particular. A tiny smile tugs at the corner of my lips. They eavesdropped on my conversation with Kevin. I can bet this house on it. I suck in a deep breath, and allow my anxiety to flow out of the release before I speak. “Can we talk?”