Page 122 of Veil of Lies

Jennifer hadn’t touched her plate although she had managed to consume an impressive quantity of white wine while pointedly ignoring me.

Coffee appeared and Brax poured me a cup. I added some cream and sipped it slowly, praying for someone to rescue me. Just as I was about to lose my shit completely, Brax dropped his napkin on the table and announced we were leaving.

“We have tickets for the Bengals game tomorrow,” he explained.

Lily nodded. Now we’d all had a shit evening, she seemed happy. Perhaps making everyone around her miserable was her raison d’etre?

“OK, darling.” She stood and air-kissed him while I tried not to vomit up the meager bit of steak I’d eaten.

“Mother.” Brax leaned over and kissed his mother, but she turned away. It broke my heart that I was the cause of her anguish, but I refused to take the blame. It wasn’t my fault and she was wrong to hold me responsible. If Brax could accept that, why couldn’t she?

Nobody bothered wishing me farewell, but manners had been drilled into me from a young age, so I couldn’t resist lobbing one last parting shot in Lily’s direction.

“Thanks for the lovely meal. I hope we can see you again soon!”

Lily forced a smile and Jennifer continued staring into her empty wine glass.

“Come on,” Brax muttered. “Let’s get the fuck out of here before Lily thinks of a reason for me to stay.”

Chapter 92

Brax

Stella was quiet as the cab pulled away from the restaurant. “Are you alright?” I asked eventually while a talk radio station murmured in the background. Outside, rain-slicked streets passed by, full of late-night revelers taking advantage of the Saturday night entertainment.

“Me?” she asked incredulously. “I’m more worried about you!” Her pretty turquoise eyes were shiny with unshed tears.

“What do you mean?” The evening had gone exactly as I expected, with the exception of Lily’s comments about Serena. I fully intended to speak to my sisters tomorrow. I didn’t trust a word that came out of my grandmother’s mouth. If the girls were having problems, I wanted to make sure they had the help they needed, irrespective of what my grandmother said. Mom may have no choice but to rely on Lily for money, but I still had my personal bank account, and I could fucking afford to pay for some therapy sessions.

Stella’s hand closed the distance between us and curled into mine, easing my pain. “We both knew they’d realize it was me,” she said, “But seeing your mother so upset…” She looked away, unable to hold my gaze, and I realized she felt guilty for Mom’s meltdown.

“Hey, it’s not your fault! Mom was going to find out anyway, so at least now she knows she can begin to process it all.”

“Maybe it would be better if—” A lone tear slid down her cheek and she quickly brushed it away.

“Don’t you dare say what I think you’re going to say!” I growled. “Not fucking happening!”

“Yeah but—”

“No, Stella. I’m done pushing you away. I’ve made my decision. I want you. If I have to share you with the other two assholes, then so be it. I can live with that.” Can’t say I was thrilled about the idea, but it was better than having none of her.

The cab driver’s wide eyes met mine in the rearview mirror and I had no doubt he was listening to our drama. Well, let him. I just hoped he was lucky enough to have a girl as special as Stella in his life.

My fist curled around her much smaller hand and for the first time all evening, she offered me a truly genuine smile.

“You’d be willing to share with Harley and Quinn?”

I grimaced slightly. “I can deal.”

“You do know Harley’s a cuddler, right?” Her face lit up with amusement.

“If he tries cuddling me, it won’t end well.”

“He snores too,” she added, her grin widening.

“Amazing, then I guess none of us will be getting much sleep.”

Stella’s stomach emitted a loud growl and she blushed.

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