Page 72 of Taste of Surrender

“It’s more complicated than that.”

“Enlighten me then,” he demanded, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

Taking a deep breath, I told him the truth about how Malachi and I had been together back in Boston and ended things right before they moved to LA. As it all spilled out of me, I watched my brother’s expression shift from shock to rage.

“So, you’ve been lying to me for five years?”

My heart sank as I saw the betrayal and hurt in his eyes. “We didn’t mean to hurt you. We just?—”

“Stop making excuses!” he snapped. “I can’t believe you guys didn’t trust me enough to be honest. Nice to know you two think so little of me.”

“Jesse, I don’t think …” I wrung my hands together, drawing his attention to them.

“Son of a bitch, I’m an idiot. You were doing it right in front of my face with your fucking matching tattoos. Did you guys have a good laugh about me being so oblivious?”

Before I could respond, he stomped up the stairs to his room and slammed the door behind him.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath and tugged at my hair.

“Hey.” Olivia rubbed her hand on my back soothingly. “Just give him some time. I’m sure you guys can work through this. You’re brothers.”

I hoped she was right. “Yeah.”

“For what it’s worth, I think it sounds like the perfect forbidden love story.”

I chuckled at her statement. “But how is it going to end?”

“That’s for you to figure out.”

Layingon the bed in the guest room, I pulled out my phone and finally sent Malachi a message:

I just talked to Jesse

He responded immediately:

How’d that go?

Not well

I’m sorry. Are you okay?

Not really. I told him everything going all the way back to Boston

You did?

Figured it was better to tell him now instead of him finding out later. But I ended up pissing him off even more. Please don’t be mad

I hoped he wouldn’t be mad at me, because I had done what I’d felt was right at the time.

I’m not. You’re probably right about him being more upset if you didn’t say something now

I blew out a breath, thankful he and I were okay.

Okay, good. How did your meeting go?

I’m still at the office. Rina’s sending out the statement. Should I still stop by after to talk to Jesse?

I don’t know how receptive he’ll be right now. Maybe he’ll have calmed down by sound check