Page 190 of When We Ignite

He inhaled deeply, his expression shifting into something more determined. “As long as I have you here, all docile and loving?—”

I smirked. “What do you need, Oli?”

“I don’t want you to think I’m ungrateful, Ash. I know what you’ve sacrificed for us. But we need to talk about the company. And Dad. Wereallyneed to talk about this.”

I looked down at my feet, burying my toes in the sand. That hollow feeling clawed at my chest again, the one that came every time I thought about my father.

“I want to make sure your future is safe,” I said. “It’s not that I don’t believe in what we do?—”

“Ash, you and Dad can’t keep working together,” he cut in. “You know it. He knows it. His whole strategy is being an asshole until you get fed up enough to quit. And you’re letting him win.”

“I’m not leaving you with this burden.”

“Thisburdenis a better fit for me,” he said gently.

I met his gaze. “Oli…”

“We’re more aligned. And it’s not even happening tomorrow. I still need experience. But you can’t keep fighting against him like this, because at some point? You’re really going toexplode.And I don’t want to lose you. I just want my brother back.”

I closed my eyes and scrubbed my hands down my face. This weight had been pressing down on me for so long, I couldn’t even remember what it felt like to breathe without it.

But Oliver was right. Henry had been right.

And I was so,sofucking tired.

I exhaled slowly. “I want that, too, Oli. I’ll think about it, okay? I promise.”

“Maybe it’s time to stop thinking about us, and think about what you want from life, Ash. What do you want?”

I had no idea.

We sat in silence for a long moment until Oliver chuckled.

I turned to him. “What?”

“I still can’t wrap my head around this.Ethan?”

I snorted. “He’s deceptively fierce. He didn’t really leave me much of a choice.”

Oliver smiled, still looking baffled. “Hetalkedyou into it?”

“Believe it or not, yeah. He doesn’t take shit fromanybody—including me.”

Oliver shook his head. “He’s nineteen, Ash.”

“Trust me, I’m well aware.”

His face turned serious again. “You know this has to be a secret, right? Not just for a little while.Years.”

I nodded. “We know. I’ll keep him safe, Oli.”

Oliver hesitated. “If my father-in-law finds out?—”

“He’ll lose his mind,” I finished. “Ethan’s worried about that too.”

Oliver was quiet for a beat, then squared his shoulders. “We’ll make sure it doesn’t get out.”

I gave him a grateful look.