Page 232 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

He nodded. “Cameron.”

“Oh.”

“Let me go and let him in.” He stood. “Be right back.”

She heard muffled voices and a few minutes later, Aaron returned. “You want to come watch a movie with us?”

Anna shook her head. “No. I’m okay. I didn’t sleep well last night. I think I’ll just go to bed.”

He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Come get me if you need anything.”

“You did what?” Alex glared at his brother. “How could you do that to her?”

Kurt balled his fists. “I told you I didn’t want to do it. You put me in the middle. Between you two again.” He growled. “It’s not fair.”

“Kurt—‍” Vati reached out his hand, but Kurt jumped back.

“No, Vati. I can’t do this. I can’t pretend—‍” He turned away and walked to the fireplace of the sitting room, leaned against the mantle, and hung his head. “I can’t go to her—spend time with her, knowing I have to give her up again.”

“So you threw the engagement ring in her face and fucked someone else?” Alex shoved Kurt away from the mantle. “You’re a fucking bastard.”

“Alex! Kurt! Stop!”

With a fierce glare, Kurt pulled his arm backward before striking Alex’s cheek with a forceful punch. Alex’s jaw dropped as he stared at his brother, but it only took a moment before he retaliated with his own swing. Kurt leaned back, evading Alex’s punch by mere inches. With a menacing growl, Alex pounced on Kurt, knocking him to the floor.

“Alex! Kurt!”

Alex straddled Kurt’s chest and punched him in the nose. Kurt’s curses filled the air as the two men grappled on the floor, exchanging blows. But their fight came to an abrupt halt when Vati’s voice reverberated through the entire house. “Boys!”

Alex was on top, his chest heaving, his nose bleeding, and his cheek throbbing. Kurt’s eye was rapidly turning black and blood ran down his cheek.

Vati shoved Alex off his brother and glared down at both of them, hands on his hips, face red, eyes full of fury. “Are you quite finished?”

Alex clenched his jaw and glanced at his brother. Kurt had gotten strong in his absence. Or Alex had gotten weaker. He narrowed his eyes at Kurt, but looked back at Vati and nodded.

“Yes, Vati,” the brothers muttered in unison.

“What h—oh, boys!” Mutti appeared next to Vati and Alex’s shoulders slumped. It was bad enough for Vati to have to pull him off Kurt, but the disappointment in his mother’s eyes stung his heart. She was right. They were acting like boys. Men in their thirties acting like children.

Alex sighed and looked at Kurt. “I’m sorry.”

Kurt glared at him, winced as he stood, and stormed away.

Alex ran his hands through his hair and stared at the floor for a moment before climbing to his feet. He shifted on his feet as Vati frowned at him.

“You two need to work things out.” He turned on his heel and stalked away.

Mutti sighed and shook her head. “Really, Alex. I expected more compassion from you.” She followed Vati away into the shadows and into their bedroom.

Alex winced as the bedroom doors clicked closed. Her soft words stung more than Vati’s anger. He sat down hard on the couch and stared into the flickering fire, ashamed. Yes, he and Kurt had fought many times when they were younger, but it really was pathetic for grown men to be fighting. He’d talk to Kurt in the morning and make things right. Once everyone had calmed down.

Chapter 120

Anna didn’t hear from Kurt again until a few weeks later, when he called to wish her a happy birthday. It was a short call.

Aaron threw her a party in their apartment the night of her birthday, and most of the company dancers attended, some even after performing that evening.

Needing a quiet moment away, she stood at the edge of the terrace, looking out at the lights of the city.

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