Page 169 of Next to Everything We Wanted

“Subtle much?” Adam muttered.

Emma glared at him. “I need answers!”

I groaned before giving them a quick run-down of what happened. Just the mere explanation sent a wave of emotions through me, burning in my chest. When I finished, both twins had wide eyes, their mouths falling open.

“Aunt Ruby showed up?” Emma asked. “I thought she lived in California.”

“She’s visiting,” I said, rubbing my neck. “Anyway, that’s why I broke up with Gavin.”

“No!” Emma threw her hands up. “You have to get back together!”

“We can’t heal from our pasts if we’re in a relationship that constantly turns old wounds into new problems.” My heart twisted with my words, not wanting to accept the truth. “Now can we get back to the movie?”

She frowned. “You figured things out last time.”

“Drop it, Emma.” I gritted my teeth.

“Can I say something?” Adam asked. “Thenwe can drop it.”

I huffed, crossing my arms. “Just get it over with.”

“Okay,Anger.” He cleared his throat. “You and Gavin broke up because he didn’t tell you that he used to be famous, right?”

“He told me that he regretted wanting me.” Which freakinghurt. I should’ve never gone back to him after he’d said that.

Adam nodded. “Then you broke up again because of the thing with your mom.”

I sighed. “What are you getting at?”

“In both of these cases, you broke up because you were hiding something from the other because you were worried telling the truth would ruin your relationship. If you’d known the truth from the start, would there be any problem between you two?”

His words hit me to my core, their weight nearly crushing my ribs. How could an almost eleven-year-old be so observant of relationships?

“Well?” Adam pressed. “Would there be a problem?”

“I don’t know.” I hugged my knees to my chest. “I’m not sure how I would’ve reacted knowing he used to be a celebrity—especially one my mom of all people managed.”

Would it have ruined our relationship from the start like we’d assumed?

Had all of this stress been for nothing?

Adam’s lips twitched as if he didn’t believe me. “If you guys stop hiding stuff from each other, maybe there won't be anything keeping you apart. Your mom managing him has nothing to do with your ability to love.”

Warmth seeped into my chest.Our pasts have nothing to do with our ability to love.

That couldn’t be true, right? If anything, our pasts had made us more closed off to love. We’d only keep hurting each other if we stayed together. Something would always pop up that would pull us apart.

But could we get through it if we just communicated?

“Thank you for sharing your thoughts,” I said, my voice hoarse from the thickness in my throat. “I don’t know if we can fix our mistakes—or if he even wants me anymore—but you did make some good points.”

Adam gave me a warm smile. “You’re welcome.”

“I hope you get back together one day,” Emma said softly. “Or that you find someone hotter who will knock you off your feet.” Her gaze went to the hallway. “You have a lot of outfits that will make guys drool.”

“Emma!” I sighed. “I’m not dressing up for any guys.” I’d barely had the energy to dress up for myself.

“Just keep your best outfits in your drawer.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me.