Page 77 of Call You Mine

I smile at her comment as she urges us to follow her inside to find the rest of the group all gathered in the wide-open living space. They renovated the beach house within the last year or so, and it looks quite different from back when we were all at the academy. Bass’s beach house wasn’t used as regularly for the Servite Academy parties as ours was, but we had a few here from time to time. The home I’m looking at now is nothing like the nautical beach home it once was.

For one, the white walls are now a deep gray, a large accent wall in a darker shade of teal holds an eclectic fireplace and a large media console with built-in shelving in black. A large charcoal gray sectional sofa sits in the middle of the living room, flanked by two smaller armchairs in a gray and white striped pattern. The pillows continue the pop of color in various shades of teal, but it all seems to mesh very well.

The kitchen is just as expansive, with black cabinets and marble countertops with silver furnishings and lighting fixtures. It definitely has Jade written all over it and although it’s unique and eccentric, it totally works.

“I love what you’ve done with the place. It looks way better than how Eliza had it styled,” I say, mentioning Sebastian’s stepmother, who was the one who originally had the house designed and furnished.

Bass nods his head, throwing his arm around Jade. “I was all for tearing it down and starting from scratch, but with two little ones, Jade figured redecorating and some minor remodeling projects was the more logical option.”

“I agree,” Scarlett says, making her way over to me with a glass of something that looks awfully delicious in her hand. “When Ace tried to convince me the rebuilding of your childhood home was in the best interest of our family, I couldn’t disagree more. Moving with a kid is bad enough, but having to deal with a construction crew in your space, it’s a no from me.”

“Hey Scarlett,” I say as she reaches in for a hug. It’s awkward, to say the least, but there’s no going back now. Her round bump gets in the way, so it’s more of a one-armed hug either way. It feels good to not have that hostility between us anymore.

I’m not sure at what point all between us was forgiven, especially since I am the one who needed the forgiveness for being such a total bitch to Scar and Jade when they did nothing to deserve it, but it warms my heart to see that they could move forward. It really puts into perspective the enormity of what my relationship with Damon really stands for, and also terrifies me to think what they would think of me if they ever found out it was all a ruse.

My stomach drops at the mere thought of how they’d take my betrayal of their friendship, of how they accepted me into their little family with not so much as a second thought. Or worse, theway I convinced one of their best friends to fool them in such a way.

“Look at her face,” my brother says as he comes over to hug me. “All of this getting along is really confusing the hell out of my little sister.”

“Oh fuck off,” I scoff, trying to distract myself from the dark thoughts currently clouding my brain. “You can’t blame me for not being all mushy feely. It’s not like any of us had that growing up, but at least you all had each other.” Pity flashes in their eyes as the entire gang looks at me and my declaration that I had absolutely no one in my corner, not even my brother. “Trust me, I know most if it is my fault, but…”

“No,” Stella interjects, suddenly appearing behind me with Kai by her side. “You are not at fault for any of the choices you made as a teenager. If any of us were to take responsibility for any of that, we’d be so screwed.”

The tiny baby in Stella's arms, dressed in a beautiful yellow summer romper with little embroidered daisies, smiles wide as she looks at me. The small sprinkling of auburn hair atop her little head warms my heart.

“Oh Stella, she’s beautiful,” I tell her, walking toward her.

“Ember sweetie, meet your Auntie Wynter. She may be new to our little family, but she’s always been a part of it, even when she didn't feel like she belonged.” Tears prick my eyes at Stella’s kindness. The girl I treated so horribly after we were such good friends as kids, all because I thought it was what I was supposed to do, is looking at me with so much love in her eyes, I can hardly handle it.

My heart aches for what I’ve spent so long missing out on.What would my life have been like if I’d have confided in someone, anyone, when Enzo came for me? Would they have helped me, stood up for me, protected me the way they are now?I can’t torture myself with questions of how things couldhave been if I’d had anyone to rely on. Especially when the lack of is my fault. I should have been strong enough to have my own thoughts, to figure out by my merit what was right and what was wrong. I let those around me influence me, brainwash me into thinking in a way I never should have.

I missed out on so much because of it. I’m in this whole mess because of it, and I don’t know how to get out.

“May I?” I ask Stella, reaching my arms out to the gorgeous baby girl in front of me.

“Of course,” she answers, and I take Ember into my arms, cradling her with such care, I almost don't recognize myself.

I hear someone behind me gasp and when I turn around to look at them, big fucking mistake. My eyes immediately find his, and what I find in them nearly breaks my resolve. Damon’s watching me with such an unreadable expression. His eyes are almost devoid of all emotion, except for one I can’t make out. My eyes burn with tears threatening to spill at the slightest push, and the way he’s staring at me carrying a baby in my arms is that push.

I swallow the lump in my throat when he looks away from me, unable to hold my gaze any longer. Whatever was transpiring between us, the unreadable message we just gave one another was too potent, too much for either of us to handle.

“Ahem,” I clear my throat, and that seems to bring everyone back.

Scarlett is the one to speak first, full-blown tears coming out of her eyes, but she has her excuse and it’s nearly seven months in the making. “Come on, now that we’re all here, let’s head out back for some food. I’m starving.”

“Of course you are, baby,” Ace says, taking his wife’s hand in his.

Scarlett rolls her eyes at him, and he kisses her neck, visible since her black hair is not in its usual style down her back but ina messy updo. “The kids are already out there with Ruby. She’s the fun aunt to be around,” she tells me. “Always comes bearing gifts, but they are so excited to see you again Wynter. I’ve been telling them about you and Caeli can’t believe her daddy has a twin, just like Sapphire and Onyx are twins, and Aunt Ruby and Uncle Damon.”

“Yeah, it’s crazy,” Jade adds, grabbing a bowl of pasta salad from out of the refrigerator. “We have so many twins in the family. Bass and Stella’s dads were twins, Ruby and Drake, you and Ace, my twin babies.”

“Do you need any help with anything?” I ask her, as the rest of the group, all except Damon, who watches me cautiously, heads outside. “You can grab the green salad that’s right over there on the counter. Oh, and that drink is for you,” she says, pointing at the glass on the kitchen island, similar to the one Scarlett had in her hand.

“Thanks.”

“They’re mocktails,” she says, sounding annoyed as I take a sip. “We’re all swearing off alcohol today in solidarity with my very pregnant sister.”

I laugh, knowing it must be hard since this group has an indulgence in alcoholic beverages.

---