Page 104 of Rulebreaker

To the fantasy of it all working out with the man who gave me Frankie.

Through all the stories and the hilarity of my family, the easy way West has slotted into my life, I feel the weight that’s been sitting heavily on my chest for years slowly drift away.

And for the first time in a long time, I’m content.

Hopeful.

Looking forward to the future.

Aspen yawns, and I know by one look on Banks’s face that our celebration is going to be winding down.

Hell, considering the dark circles under Lily’s eyes–even though she’s the life of the party as always–and I’m surprised Atlas even let her come tonight.

And Jade, she’s pale and tired from “a long studio session,” but I’m not the only one who’s noticed that she hasn’t touched her Gamebreaker (or that Royal drank her previous one).

Willow is the only one of my friends who doesn’t look exhausted and she flicks her gaze to mine and grins, reading all the same things in the subtext as me.

And, yup, right on cue, Banks bundles Aspen up and guides her to the door, Royal and Jade, Lily and Atlas right behind them. Willow, Dash, West, and I make sure the space isn’t a disaster for the cleaning crew in the morning and leavethe now empty Sapphire Room, Dash punching in numbers on the keypad as we leave to set the alarm.

“You good?” I ask him softly, as he walks me to my car, West and Willow behind us, chatting easily.

He glances down at me and I brace for him to brush me off, to minimize what he’s feeling on this night, on the final hours of his best friend’s birthday. But my brother surprises me by slinging an arm around my shoulders and drawing me close. “Fucking miss him,” he mutters to the top of my head. “I keep thinking it’ll get easier but though the pain is less acute, it never really goes away.”

“I know it doesn’t.” I turn in his hold and wrap my arms around his middle. “But I’m so proud of how far you’ve come. And so damn glad you have Willow in your life.”

He pulls back and unlocks my car, but his eyes are soft. “I love you, Thorny.”

I wrinkle my nose at him. “I hate that nickname.”

One big shoulder lifts and falls. “Tough.”

“You poking the bear?” I warn. “After I was giving such good Sister?”

“Yup.” A tug of my hair. “Because that’s what brothers do.” Then he sweeps me in a tight hug, mouth coming to my ear. “And as much as it pains me to say–since I am your brother and want to murder any asshole who even thinks of touching you–but I’m damned glad you have West.” He pulls back. “He’s a good guy.”

“I know,” I say, and I mean it.

It’s why I’ve made decisions tonight, why although there’s a small part of me who’s sad, the rest of me is at peace.

It’s time to move on.

“I know you’re smarter than the rest of us so I don’t have to tell you not to fuck it up.”

I laugh softly. “Here’s hoping.”

Then I say goodnight to him, to Willow, and watch as they get into their car and drive away. Only then do I turn to the man who’s sneakily slipped in past my defenses, the man I’ve made a promise to in my head tonight.

To be completely open to where things go.

He steps close, fingers trailing over my cheek, and when the touch makes me shiver, he draws me against his body, wraps me in the warmth of his arms. “You hanging in there?”

“I’m better when you hold me like this.”

He stills, then I get to see something beautiful.

Emotion in his gorgeous eyes, softness on his face. “God, I like you,” he murmurs, head dropping, lips finding mine.

I like him too.