Page 33 of Sweet Surrender

“I’m good,” I told her, shaking my head. I was still working on my first drink, and considering I planned on driving back to the city after brunch, it seemed a good idea to stick to one. “And it’s not like I didn’t have any fun at the spa or when we were shopping yesterday.” It was safer to be with the girls only and easier to think without Noah’s presence looming over everything. A tight bandage and ibuprofen every few hours allowed me to have a good time. Wine had also helped.

This morning marked another welcome break, having brunch with the girls at my family’s house a few miles from the Goldsmith estate. I had jumped at Mom’s offer to host us this morning. She was in town to meet with a new client at their home, and Dad never missed an excuse nowadays to get in some golf out here.

Sitting in the sunny kitchen, I felt comfortable. At home. Able to relax without Noah’s presence reminding me of the huge secret we were keeping.

“You look tired, honey.” Mom took my chin in one hand, looking down at me with her usual motherly concern. “Do you need another pillow under your ankle?”

It was already propped up on three pillows on a spare chair at the kitchen table. “I think I’m okay.”

My father grumbled as he passed through the room, a pair of golf gloves sticking out from his khakis’ back pocket. “I think you should have gone to get an X-ray,” he reminded me for the fifth time since we had arrived.

Rose and the others giggled softly, exchanging knowing looks while I did what I could not roll my eyes at my parents’ concern.

“I’m fine, Dad. It’s just a sprain.”

“Are you sure you’ll be able to drive home? Let me have a car take you back. Your mother or I could drive the Mercedes to your building tomorrow.”

“Thank you, but that’s okay.” I blew him a kiss after he shook his head at Mom before heading out for his tee time. Mom only sighed deeply before returning to the French toast she was frying for us. I loved them, but there were times when it seemed they forgot I was an adult.

Valentina snagged a ripe, ruby-red strawberry from the bowl of fruit on the table. “Do you need any extra help at that sports clinic you’re holding next weekend?” she asked before taking a bite.

Aria nodded firmly, turning my way. “We’d be happy to keep those kids in line or whatever you need help with.”

“I don’t remember asking for help,” I pointed out, barely biting back a knowing smile at her transparency. “And I’m pretty sure those hot, rich, gorgeous pro athletes will be able to manage things themselves.” Because obviously, that’s where the concern came from.

Who didn’t want to spend a day with a bunch of virile athletes? And everybody knew men grew exponentially hotter while interacting with kids. It was pretty much a law of nature.

“Okay, then maybe we’ll come along to make sure you and Noah don’t claw each other’s eyes out.” Valentina winked at my wide-eyed reaction. Unlike Aria, she stuck to her natural chestnut brown hair color, now twirling a strand around her finger. “I mean, there has to be a limit somewhere, right? I’m surprised you haven’t killed him yet.”

“We all know there’s no love lost there,” Rose pointed out, offering a sympathetic look as she flopped down next to me. “Even though it happened a long time ago, you don’t forget that kind of thing.”

Mom’s phone rang, offering a distraction. “Hey, Liv,” she called out after answering, heading through the back door to take Olivia’s call on the porch.

It couldn’t have come at a better time since my head was spinning, and a sense of unease took hold of me. I looked around the table at my twin cousins and best friend, waiting for an explanation as they exchanged uncomfortable glances.

“What thing are you talking about?” I asked Rose, narrowing my eyes. She couldn’t fool me. The girl blushed at the drop of a hat, and the familiar shade of red was already creeping its way up her neck.

It was Aria who threw her hands in the air. “Enough’s enough. We all know what happened with Pierce back in high school. It’s so stupid, acting like we don’t know about it ten years later. It was a long time ago.”

“You knew about that? Oh, God,” I groaned out, covering my face with my hands. How many more uncomfortable revelations could I handle?

“Don’t be that way.” Rose draped an arm around my shoulders, squeezing tight while touching the side of her head to mine. “My brother is an asshole. We all know this.”

“We didn’t want to say anything about it because it would hurt your feelings,” Valentina explained in a quiet voice. I had always gotten along better with Aria, who was the more empathetic and caring of them. Valentina had always been much more blunt, less patient. To hear her like this came as a surprise.

“Plus, Noah threatened to make our lives miserable if we ever mentioned it.” With another squeeze, Rose added, “He felt really bad, and I’m not just saying that because I’m his sister.”

My hands dropped away from my face. Nothing about this made sense. “He admitted what he did?”

“He didn’t have to. Evan spread the word to us as soon as we got to the dance,” Aria explained, gesturing between her and her twin. “He thought it was hysterical, but he was half-drunk by then anyway.”

“He sobered up real quick when Noah shoved him up against the wall,” Valentina observed, smirking. “I swear, that boy’s life flashed before his eyes.”

“It was too late by then,” Aria concluded. “Evan had already told Pierce. Noah warned him that if he ever said anything to you about it, he could kiss his ass goodbye.”

I was still reeling when the twins grinned at each other. “And it didn’t suck telling Penny Schwartz we’d get her kicked off the student council for threatening to beat up a freshman.” Aria giggled before taking another sip of her mimosa.

They had done all that, and I didn’t have clue. All these years, I thought it was our secret. It turned out they had been keeping a secret from me.

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