Page 56 of Tangled Hearts (Mended Hearts #4)

Holden shakes his head. “You’re one of the best people I’ve ever met.

You knew us for seven seconds when you started volunteering.

You’re supporting something that means so much to me without even knowing why it does.

And not only that, but you’re abandoning your entire career to do it full-time.

You’re kind and patient. The kids are crazy about you.

Warren, especially. God, what about that says not good enough ? ”

I’m stunned into silence. I didn’t realize he felt that way about me.

“Do you love him?” he asks.

I nod. “So fucking much,” I breathe, my heart racing.

“And he loves you,” Holden says. “So, no. You’re both adults.

I love you both. I trust you, Nic. And clearly Eli does too.

You’re a good person. And you’re good for him.

I’m sorry that I acted…” He stops talking with a shake of his head.

“That wasn’t really about you. Which you know now.

I trust you. You wouldn’t hurt him. Not intentionally. ”

My eyes fill with tears. “That’s… You don’t know how much that means to me. I’ve been…” I blow out a breath, trying to collect my thoughts.

“Freaking the fuck out?” Holden interjects.

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“Yeah, I could tell. That’s how I knew I didn’t need to worry.

” He pauses. “Okay, so I worried for a second. But then I saw how worried you were. Like you were about to combust with it. It was adorable.” He shrugs.

“I don’t know. I mean… sure, it could be a little weird.

You’re my brother, and he’s basically my bonus kid.

But as long as I ignore that? It’s fine.

You almost told me the other day, didn’t you? ”

I nod. “Yeah. I was so tired of hiding. Eli deserves to be loved loudly, and I was doing him a disservice. ”

“You both deserve to be loved loudly.” He settles against the couch, resting his head on the back and closing his eyes. “Can you go get him for me?”

“Eli?” I question, still staring at him in shock.

His lips turn up. “Yes, Eli. I want to talk to him. Let him know I’m okay.

Or… that I will be. And thank him. For being willing to beat my six-foot-five husband for me.

” He chuckles a little, then opens his eyes and looks at me, sobering.

“He’s never seen me like that. For all he knows about my past, he’s never seen me that way. ”

“It scared him,” I whisper.

Holden grimaces. “I bet. I didn’t mean to.”

I drag him into another hug. “We know.” I rub his back, feeling the shudder of his breaths under my palm. “I’ll go get him.”

Holden nods but squeezes me tighter, not letting go for a minute.

When he finally does, he wipes at his eyes again, and I stand up to go get Eli.

He’s not sleeping now. Instead, he’s sitting up on the bed, knees pulled to his chest, tears dripping down his face. “I heard some,” he mumbles as soon as he sees me.

I rush to him, letting him collapse in my arms. “Oh, baby,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

“I didn’t listen long.” He sniffles. “Just for a second. It wasn’t for me. It was for you. I didn’t listen long. I came back in here, I promise.”

“Eli,” I murmur, squeezing him to me. “You’re okay. Holden’s okay too. He will be, anyway. He wants to talk to you.”

“He does?” Eli whispers, voice breaking.

“Of course he does,” Holden says from the bedroom doorway.

Eli pulls himself from my arms, rasping out Holden’s name in a broken whimper. Holden is across the room in a heartbeat, climbing into our bed and pulling Eli into his arms. “Oh, my little bestie. I’m okay. I promise.”

Eli sobs, and before long, Holden is too. The two of them cling to each other like they’re the only things tethering each other to reality. “I’m so sorry I scared you, Eli.”

Eli shakes his head violently. “We—I triggered you, Uncle Hold. I’m the one who’s sorry.”

“No,” Holden whispers. “No. It wasn’t your fault at all, I promise. You know trauma has a way of sneaking up on us. You didn’t do anything wrong. Either of you.”

“Okay,” Eli says, voice shaking.

Holden lets out a broken laugh. “I hear you punched Julian.”

“He wouldn’t stop,” Eli sobs, breaking my heart all over again. “You told him no, and he wasn’t—he wouldn’t stop. He wasn’t listening.”

My chest aches watching the two of them. For once, I don’t feel like an outsider. I feel lucky. So fucking lucky. To have them. Both of them. My family.

“Julian would never hurt me,” Holden murmurs. “He was trying to help me. I scared the shit out of him too.” He lets out a choked laugh. “You were really gonna beat his ass, huh?”

Eli nods, laughing a bit himself. “I was.”

Eli drops his arms, and Holden sits back, smiling softly at him. “Brave kid.”

“He’s not mad at me, right?”

Holden shakes his head. “Not even a little. He said it was the coolest thing you’ve ever done.”

Eli giggles, wiping at his tear-stained face. “Punching him?”

“You stood up for me, little bestie. You were ready to fight for me. That’s brave.” He leans forward, resting his forehead against Eli’s. “And Jules is very proud of you for that. ”

Eli nods, and Holden sits back with a sniffle. “What time is it?”

I glance at the clock. “9:30.”

He climbs off the bed. “Okay. I have to go. I have another appointment with my therapist at ten. But I want you both to come over tonight, please? Beck’s mom and dad have the kids.

I’m a fucking mess right now and I don’t want them to see that.

Hell, I didn’t even want you guys to. But, uh—” He looks around, like he’s trying to keep himself from falling apart again.

“I need you guys. I’m sorry I ghosted everyone, but Ro and Beck are coming too, and I really want you guys there. Please?”

I look at Eli to see what he thinks, but I already know I want to be there. He nods. “We’ll be there,” I answer. “You just let us know when you’re ready.”

Holden slams into me, hugging me so hard I almost can’t breathe. “Thank you. I’ll text you both later, okay?”

After giving Eli another hug, he tears out of the room. A few seconds later, the front door slams shut, and as soon as it does, Eli breaks down. He buries his face in his hands as sobs tear through him.

There aren’t any words to help. There’s nothing I can say that will make him hurt less, so I don’t even try. I just climb into bed with him and pull him on top of me, holding him in my arms as he cries.