Page 125 of Reckless Hearts

“You flying here when Dad had his heart attack. You didn’t come to support me, did you? You came to support Seb.”

“I wanted to support both of you,” I say feebly, but I know Saskia can read the truth on my face.

“Do Mum and Dad know about this?”

“I think your dad knows. I’m not sure about your mum.”

“Oh my fucking god, I can’t believe this.” She rocks back. “I’ve been comforting myself that my husband might be fucking around on me, but at least I have an amazing best friend and great family. But you’ve all been keeping a massive secret from me.”

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”

The voice comes from behind us, and Saskia and I spin around.

Seb is standing in the doorway to the bedroom.

28

Seb

Shit.

My head is still throbbing, but when I woke up and heard Saskia’s voice, there was no way I was going back to sleep.

“It’s my fault we didn’t tell you. Marcus wanted to tell you. I was the one who insisted we should keep it a secret.”

“Why?” There’s something almost plaintive in Saskia’s voice. She swallows. “Why didn’t you want me to know?”

“Because I thought you’d sabotage things between us.” I answer the question honestly. The time for lies and omissions has definitely passed.

My insecurity is to blame for this whole mess.

Part of me will always be in disbelief that Marcus Johnson wants me.

But I’ve just heard Marcus tell Saskia that he wouldn’t break it off with me even if she told him to. He told her I’m the best thing that has ever happened to him.

At some point, I’ve got to trust him. I’ve got to trustus.

“I wouldn’t have done that.” Her lips press into a thin line. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. And now, my husband isprobably cheating on me and my brother and best friend have been lying to me for years.” Tears well in her eyes.

She’s playing the victim.

Anger surges in me, bright and sharp, and words suddenly tumble out of me.

“Oh, come on, Saskia, you’ve been riding roughshod over me my entire life. It’s always been about you and what you want. Are you honestly telling me you would have been okay with Marcus and me together?” My breathing is rough, ragged. “One of your first questions to him was whether he’d break it off with me if you asked him to. Don’t give me that bullshit and pretend you’d have been fine with us together.”

I can feel Marcus’s stare on me.

“I asked that as a test to see how serious he is about you,” she counters. “I was just being a good big sister.”

“Oh, stop spinning shit,” I say tiredly.

Saskia’s eyes narrow.

“I don’t have to listen to this. I can’t deal with this now, along with everything else happening in my life.” She stands abruptly and strides toward the door, her heels clicking like angry punctuation marks against the hardwood.

The slam of the door closing behind her reverberates through the room like a thunderclap.

For a few seconds, Marcus and I just stare at each other.