Page 104 of Rebellious Hearts

Elena finally stood. It was getting late.

“I have to take care of a few things,” she said. “But I can come back and spend the night.”

“Oh, it’s okay. You’ve done more than enough listening to me cry over the mess I created all by myself.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Sofe,” Elena said and cupped my cheek. “This is a big deal, but you’re not the only player. It takes two to tango.”

I nodded. It was true. It had taken two.

Two to fall in love.

Two to build a lie.

Two to make a baby.

But it had taken only one to break it off.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come back?” Elena asked. “I can pack a bag and sleep here so you’re not alone.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “Really. I don’t mind being alone. I’ll be okay.”

Elena hesitated before she nodded. “Okay, but if you need me, call me and I’ll be here in a flash.”

“Thank you,” I said. “You’re such an incredible friend.”

I stood, and Elena hugged me again.

“You’re going to be okay. No matter which way this goes. We’ll just take it one day at a time, okay?”

I nodded, and we pulled apart before she walked to my front door. She looked at me one more time, almost unsure to leave me, before she let herself out.

Alone, I let out a breath and collapsed on the couch again.

I could have asked her to stay, but at some point I would be alone, and no matter how many people surrounded me, ultimately, I was in this by myself.

33

BEN

The four of us had all been adopted at different times in our lives and different times in our parents’ lives, so technically, we were all the same.

We’d come into the Blackwood family as equals, but I didn’t feel like that meant anything.

There were so many times that despite it all, I felt like the black sheep of the family.

I’d been adopted last. That shouldn’t have mattered, but it did.

By the time I’d arrived, the rest had all been around for a while. We were all the same age but they’d all been settled and I was new, unsure, and angry at the world.

Today, when I walked into Blackwood Inc. offices, I was reminded of that. Everyone here felt so settled—Alex was the CEO and fucking good at running the empire. Chris was a prodigy at yacht design, outdoing himself almost every time he created something new, and Daniel was the philanthropist, the unassuming hero amongst us.

And then there was me, the guy who’d lost yet another contract, fucked it all up because I’d had to open my big mouth and lie to Richard about me and Sofia.

The worst part wasn’t the fact that I’d lost the contract—although that already stung like a bitch.

The worst part was that I’d lost Sofia because I’d been stupid enough to fall for her. Stupid enough to get my heart involved when I’d only had one rule: don’t get involved.

I’d broken that rule, and now look where I stood. Broken, my tail between my legs despite the fact I was a Blackwood, and fucking furious with myself because almost all of it was my fault.