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FORTY-SIX

SARA

Alone in the apartment, it didn’t take long for all the voices to get to me. The commentators, randos spewing BS on TikTok, sports fans, even religious zealots. The speculation was wild. But every one of the people talking about the events of last night agreed on one thing: I’m the problem.

Some thought Brooks was wrong for attacking his uncle. Many agreed that Seb was wrong for sleeping with me when he has a wife at home. Naturally, money and the evil that comes along with it could be blamed. According to several folks online, everyone involved is too rich to have true morals. They obviously haven’t done a deep dive into my past.

In the end, each believed that I was at the center of it all. I’m the home-wrecker.

There’s no way around it. In the end, the Bolts will have to fire me to appease the critics and fans alike.

I shouldn’t be here. The babies have only been home for a matter of days. And despite her earlier text, I’m sure Liv’s husband has instructed her not to get involved in my drama.

Gavin and Beckett are a team. They’re extremely close, and if Gavin doesn’t want me at Langfield Corp, then I’m confident that Beckett will back him up.

Yet I find myself on her doorstep anyway. Sunglasses on, hood pulled up over my hair, head down so no one will recognize me.

The last thing I need to do is fuel the media fodder.

When Liv opens the door, spit-up dripping down her shirt and a crying baby in her arms, looking all sorts of disheveled, my heart sinks.

“I shouldn’t have come. I’m sorry.”

But before I can make it down the steps, she’s reprimanding me, mom voice and everything. “Sara Case, don’t you dare make me chase after you with a newborn in tow!”

I sigh and turn around. Though I do a quick scan of the street, hoping no one was close enough to hear her shout my name. “I’m sorry.”

“And don’t apologize. This is what family is for. Get in here.” She holds out her arm.

Tears sting my eyes. It takes everything in me to keep them from falling.

“Dyl, can you take Maggie for me?” she hollers, disappearing inside.

I trudge up the stairs and toe off my boots in their entryway. The house is warm and smells like cookies.

Liv gives me a kind smile. “Dylan and Winnie have been baking. June is fast asleep, but this one? She’s a clingy mess, just like her father.” She grins down at Maggie. “You’re a little needy one, aren’t you, baby girl?”

My mood instantly lifts at the sight of her daughter’s chubby cheeks and puckered lips. It’s a fact. It’s impossible to be sad while in the presence of a newborn. “She’s beautiful.”

“She is.” Liv straightens. “Let me drop Ms. Needy off with Dylan in the kitchen. Go relax on the couch. I’ll be there in a second.”

In the living room, I wander along the perimeter, taking in the pictures on the walls. A photo of Liv and Beckett from their wedding in Vegas sits on the mantel. Her cheeks are rosy and her eyes are glassy, but her smile is blinding. The way Beckett looks at her, the complete and utter devotion he wears like a badge, makes my heart pang. It’s obvious he was smitten on their wedding day. And that hasn’t changed.

Beside that photo is one of Finn. He’s wearing one of his signature tutus, and he and Beckett are dressed in matching Revs jerseys. Another one showcases all five of them: Finn, Beckett, Liv, Winnie, and Addie. They’re smiling at the camera while they stand in front of this brownstone. If I’m not mistaken, it’s the day Beckett surprised her with the keys and told her he’d purchased every house on the street so she and her friends could live near one another without having to live with one another.

A photo of the four women is next. Liv and her three best friends are posed in front of the original brownstone a couple of doors down. I tear up as I take in the details. God, I miss my friends.

There’s so much love in this house. So much love in Brooks’s family. And they’re all going to hate me.

Why did I come here?

I turn, ready to bolt out the front door before Liv can return, but Finn saunters in, foiling my plan.

“Hey, Auntie Sar. What are you doing here?”

Finn’s hair is slicked back, and even though it’s overcast and thirty degrees outside, he’s wearing his aviators. I can’t help but smile.

“I thought I’d stop by to see the new babies and say hi.”

Finn turns in a circle. “Uncle Brooks come with you?”

“No.” I shake my head, working to hide the way my heart cracks at the sound of Brooks’s name. “He had a meeting today.”

“Oh, Bossman had a meeting too.”

My stomach tightens. I’d bet anything he’s at the same meeting as Brooks. They’re probably sitting around a conference table deciding my future as we speak.

Finn steps closer. “When’s Ethan coming to visit again?”

“Oh, um, I don’t know, actually.”

“Bossman says family sticks together. Especially us boys. There are so many of you girls, so you need to bring him around again. We need all the boys we can get.”

A warm affection for this little boy fills me. “That’s sweet, but Ethan isn’t really part of your family. Maybe we can FaceTime him in a little bit, though.”

“What you mean he’s not my family?”

“He’s my brother. You know that, right? And I’m not really your aunt.”

Finn scrunches his face up and tilts his head to one side. “So? Auntie Dylan and Auntie Shay and Auntie Delia aren’t really my aunts either. But we’re all still family.”

“Agreed,” Liv says from the doorway, observing her son with a wistful smile. “Finn, go get your stuff together. Uncle Gavin is going to take you to the park.”

“Yes!” Finn pumps his fist. “Uncle Brooks is right, Auntie Sara. You are a crazy girl. Gavin isn’t really my uncle either, but he’s still the best one I got.” With those parting words, he darts out of the room.

Liv settles on the couch and waves me over. “He’s right, you know. We’re all your family.”

“How could you possibly still feel that way?” I settle in beside her. “After everything you know?—”

She clutches my hand, silencing me. “What I know is that my friend is hurting, and that’s the only thing that matters.”

I lower my head and pick at the fabric of my leggings. “I wouldn’t be so sure. Right now your husband and Gavin are probably arguing with Brooks. I’m destroying this family.” The tears I’ve been holding back well at the mere thought of causing a rift between the guys.

Liv shakes her head. “Brooks is a big boy. As are Beckett and Gavin. They’re all responsible for their reactions and how they handle this.” She dips her head, catching my eye. “I know you. Whatever happened between you and Seb, there’s got to be more to the story.”

I break down then, and the tears escape in earnest. Sniffling, I shift to face her. And then I tell her everything. I tell her about how my relationship with Seb started. About how he told me he was divorced and about the moment I discovered the truth.

“Brooks just stepped in without knowing the details of what had gone on between you two?” Liv asks, her brows arched high.

“Yes.” I wring my hands in my lap. “He’s the best person I know. And it may have started off fake, but it’s real now. I’m in love with him. But I won’t let him lose his brothers. Or his career. Not because of me.” With a long breath out, I cover my face with my hands. “Seb was right. I’m going to cost him everything.”

Liv grasps my wrists and tugs my hands away, shaking her head fiercely. “I can’t promise anything when it comes to Brooks’s career. I can’t even make promises regarding yours. But we can talk out our options. Make a plan. That’s what you and I are good at.”

She offers me a soft smile that I can’t help but return.

“As for this family? The relationships between the guys? I can promise those will not change. They have something special. This family is something special. And you are a part of it because Brooks loves you. It’s that simple. We don’t turn our backs on one another. No matter what. Blood doesn’t matter. Love matters . And, Sar, we all love you.”

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the love and devotion she’s describing when the doorbell rings. “That’ll be Gavin here to pick up Finn.” Liv slowly rises from the couch. “I’m going to go check on the twins. Why don’t you get that?”

My stomach lurches at the thought of facing him, but I trust Liv. And she’s right. This family is special. If nothing else, Gavin should hear the truth from me.

My whole body is rigid as I make my way to the door, but I fill my lungs and force myself to pull it open.

On the other side, Gavin’s tired smile falls. “I haven’t made any decisions yet, Sar.”

I nod as I move back so he can enter. “I’m not here to sway your decisions. Well, not much at least. Just—” I take another deep breath. “You deserve to know the truth. And I’d really like the opportunity to tell you my version of it.”

With a sigh, Gavin points to the bar in the dining room. “Will I need a whiskey for this?”

I shrug. “We probably both will.”