Page 106 of The Forever Rule

“I’m not speaking about Mom,” Isabella snapped, before she let out a deep breath. “I’m sorry. Maybe I need to hit more things.”

“Maybe we should go get dinner,” I put in.

Isabella looked at me then, tilting her head. “Are theCage brothers upset with their mom? Or is everything hunky-dory on that side.”

I cringed and looked over at Greer.

“I wouldn’t say hunky-dory,” Greer added. “Not that I know what that word means.”

We all let out a soft laugh, though there wasn’t much humor in it.

“I know there’s strain there, and it’s not perfect. You should talk to them.”

“About their mom? Or about the fact that our moms seemed to have found a way to hurt all of us at the same time,” Isabella asked dryly.

“We don’t talk about it,” I said, feeling a little hurt by that. Because no, Aston and I didn’t talk about his parents. At all. We talked about my family, and his work, and what we wanted with our futures in terms of our careers, but we didn’t talk about the big thing that stood between us and was obviously so heavy over his shoulders.

“We don’t talk about your father, their father,” I corrected. “I don’t know if we should, I don’t know if it’s my place. But you should all talk. That’s what those dinners are for.”

Sophia just shook her head, as Emily and Phoebe held onto each other, and Isabella’s fists clenched.

“We do those dinners because we have to. And while I can’t blame any of my siblings, on either side, for what happened, I’m not okay with it. I don’t want to talk to Mom. And I don’t want to talk about Dad anymore. I justwant it all to be over. And it’s never going to be over. Because they’ve royally fucked us.”

“I wish I knew what Aston thought, but he doesn’t tell me.” I blurted out the words and didn’t realize that they were there until everyone stared at me. “Sorry, I shouldn’t center this around me.”

“No, I’d love to talk about anyone but myself,” Isabella said. “Are you okay?” she asked softly. “Do I have to hit my brother?” I asked.

“No, no violence.” They all stared pointedly at me, and I looked around the smash room. “Other than right now.” The soft laughter didn’t fill the silence. “Everything’s fine. I mean, it’s not like we’re too serious.”

“Are you trying to tell us that, or yourself,” Emily asked, not unkindly.

“I don’t know. I just, I don’t want to make something out of nothing.” I cleared my throat and rolled my shoulders back. “And since we ended this on such a weird note, let’s go get dinner, and stuff our faces.”

“I might have to eat some pizza before we go,” Phoebe added. “I’m starving.”

“Honestly same,” Sophia said, her hand on her stomach. “I skipped lunch again.”

“Sophia,” Isabella chided.

“Class ran over, and then I had to deal with a few yelling parents.” She held up her hand. “It’s part of my job. And it’s okay, I’m going to eat two dinners, like a little hobbit, and everything will be fine.”

I sighed, as we made our way into the locker room tochange back into our normal clothes. Isabella tugged on my wrist, pulling me back.

“I’m sorry if I pushed,” she said.

I shook my head. “You didn’t push.”

“I did. But you’re my best friend, and I want to know about the guy you’re seeing. I want to know what you feel, and what he feels. Just like old times.”

“And I want to tell you that,” I whispered.

“But you can’t, because it’s Aston. Because he’s my brother.” She shook her head. “And that’s such a weird word to say. Kyler was my only brother for all of my life, and suddenly I’m surrounded by testosterone.”

“So much testosterone,” I whispered. “But it’s okay. We do talk. You listen.”

“I still have so much anger. And Dad’s not here, and I’m not talking to Mom, so I keep pushing it at them. So I’m sorry. I want you to tell me everything.”

“There’s not much to tell right now.”

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