SARAH I know I promised to stay quiet and mind my business while the brothers handle the detective, but it’s really hard to. I can’t eat without seeing the plea in her eyes, the fear, the impending sense of doom. Great. She managed to completely ruin a perfect meal, and the rest of my day. The email I get at the close of work makes everything so much worse. The notification pops up on my screen while I’m on my desk. “Emergency Board Meeting on Friday. Attendance Mandatory.” I heave a sigh, my fingers massaging the sides of my head. Hours of staring at my screen has left me with a splitting headache. Julian didn’t waste any time. I stare at the email, reading it three times like the words might change if I look hard enough. They don’t. The meeting is scheduled. The battle line has been drawn. I have about four working days to figure out how to save my company, keep me in it. I feel far too tired to panic right now. I close my laptop, grab my bag, and head home. The house is quiet when I walk in. Too quiet, actually. Usually, there’s music playing or the TV is on or I can hear Kevin banging around in the kitchen trying to cook up a storm. He’s quite the chef, my brother. But tonight, there’s an eerie feeling behind the silence. I set my bag down by the door, kick off my heels. My first instinct is to call out to Kevin. I did see his car in the driveway. That’s when I hear it, the soft sound from the living room. It’s like a loud sigh, but not quite. I pick up my bag and move toward it slowly. If it’s not Kevin, I’m prepared to slap whoever it may be across the head with my bag. My laptop sits comfortably in it, so it should do tangible damage. Dim blue lights light up the living room. Only the lamp in the corner is on, casting everything in warm shadows. And there, on the couch… I see two figures. Close together—very close together. My brain registers pieces before it registers the whole picture. A woman’s hand on someone’s chest. Dark hair falling forward. The familiar broad shoulders of my brother. And then the way their heads are angled, the way they’re leaning into each other. They’re kissing. Kevin is kissing someone. The woman shifts slightly, and I catch a glimpse of her face in the lamplight. Hailey. Somehow, my lips thin into a smile. I stand there for a second, frozen. Not sure if I should announce myself or just slowly back away and pretend I never saw this. It’s a sweet and private moment for them after all. Kevin and Hailey’s love story was my only source of entertainment at some point in my life. Years later, and here they are. I guess everyone does have that ex they can’t stay away from. I mean, I still remember how miserable I was when I broke up with the brothers. “Uhmm, okay.” I want to smack myself in the head once the words leave my lips. They spring apart so fast I’m surprised they don’t fall off the couch. Kevin’s face goes from flushed to pale to bright red in about three seconds, I manage to see it in the dim lighting. Hailey looks like she wants the floor to swallow her whole. “Sarah,” Kevin starts, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t…we weren’t…” “Relax,” I say, fighting back a smile. “You’re both adults. I’m just surprised it took you this long, honestly.” Hailey stands up quickly, smoothing down her shirt. “I should go.” “You don’t have to…” Kevin begins, but she’s already grabbing her jacket. There’s a remorseful look on her face. “I’ll call you,” she says quietly to him. Kevin’s shoulders fall. It’s almost like he knows she wouldn’t. Damn. I’ve cockblocked him. She gives me a small wave. “Night, Sarah.” “Night, Hailey.” She’s out the door in seconds, leaving Kevin and me in awkward silence. “So,” I say, unable to help myself. “Hailey, huh? When did that happen?” “Sarah…” “I’m happy for you, Kev. Really.” I cross to the stairs. “Just maybe give me a heads up next time so I don’t walk into a full makeout session in my living room.” He doesn’t laugh. Doesn’t even smile. Maybe I deserve it. I turn on my heels and head up the stairs. I’m halfway through changing out of my work clothes when Kevin knocks on my bedroom door. “Come in.” He enters slowly, hands shoved in his pockets, looking more serious than I’ve seen him in weeks. “We need to talk,” he says. I pull on my sweats and sit on the edge of my bed. I have a feeling this isn’t just about me cockblocking him. “Okay. Talk.” He takes a breath, caressing the back of his neck with his right hand. “I’m leaving Durmont soon.” The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. It leaves my tongue heavy and dry, a distasteful combination really. “What?” I narrow my eyes on him. “Why?” “Why not?” “But…” “My job here is done, Sarah. You’re safe. You’re happy. The brothers can take care of you now.” He shrugs. “I need to get back to my life.” His life…without me. “Your life is here,” I say. I hate how my voice cracks slightly.“With me. With us. Your sister and best friends are here.” I don’t say it, but I know he hears it. The silent question screaming at him: WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT? “I came because you needed me. Because Aaron was…” He stops and shakes his head. “But you don’t need me anymore. And that’s good. That’s what I wanted.” I’ve gotten used to having him around. Used to coffee in the mornings and stupid arguments about what to watch on TV and the way he leaves his shoes in the middle of the hallway. Used to feeling like we’re kids again, when it was just him and I, and sometimes the brothers. “Durmont will always be home,” I tell him firmly. “You have a place in my house no matter what. You know that, right?” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “You’re getting married soon. Starting a family. You’ll be too busy for your annoying older brother.” Fuck. I tilt my head upwards to look at the ceiling. It’s all I can do to stop my tears from flowing. “Come on, Berry. Don’t cry.” Too late, BRO. My gaze finds him again, I can see my vision slowly blur. “I’m never too busy for you.” We sit in silence for a moment. I’m thinking, seriously thinking of something to make him stay, anything. “What about Hailey? Things seemed pretty good between you two just now.” His face falls. Pain flashes across the soft lines of his face. “I’ve already told her I can’t stay.” “Kevin…” “She’s been the only woman I’ve been able to bring myself to love, besides you. And I…” He sucks in a deep breath and shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter.” I move closer, grab his hand. “Of course it matters. You deserve a shot at happiness too. If you love her, tell her. Stay.” “It’s too late,” he chuckles bitterly. “What you saw downstairs? That was closure. She’s engaged, Sarah.” The words hang in the air between us. “What?” “She’s engaged to someone else. Has been for months. I knew before I even kissed her tonight.” He laughs, but it’s hollow. “I just needed to say goodbye properly, I guess. It just…it turned into something else. Fuck.” He buries his face into both hands. “She must feel like shit.” “Kevin, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” “It’s fine. It’s…” He stands up abruptly. “I’m leaving in a week. And I’m not certain there’s anything here for me anymore.” I start to say something, to tell him he’s wrong, that there’s always something here for him. But he cuts me off. “You just got back from work. You should get some rest.” He leans down and kisses my forehead, soft and sad, and I know he’s not willing to have this conversation anymore. Still, it won’t hurt to try. “Kev…” “Night, Berry.” He walks out, and I follow him to the door. Lock it behind him after he leaves. My phone rings. It better not be work calling, or I swear to God I’ll… OUR LITTLE KITTEN IS SO HORNY The group name is displayed on my screen. My heart does a back flip in my chest as I grab my phone from the bed. “Hey,” “Kitten,” Ronan’s voice comes through first. It’s warm and familiar. “Rough day?” “You have no idea.” “Tell us,” Malachi says. “We’re listening.” And just like that, the weight on my shoulders doesn’t feel crushing anymore.