Page 88 of The Forever Rule

“Come on, let’s go sit down and get comfortable,” I said, as I gestured for everybody to take a seat in the room large enough for us. We each leaned down to grab a few bites to eat, though everything felt awkward as hell.

“So how is this going to work in the future?” Sophia asked as she perched on the edge of a chair. She played with a grape between her fingers and winced. “I’m not being confrontational. And I know we have a spreadsheet about who can go where for the next couple of months, but is it only family? Or can we invite friends. Or should we do a dinner with all of us at one point? I mean, it’s vague and yet specific at the same time, and I don’t know if I like it.”

“I sure as hell know I don’t like it,” Kyler mumbled. “And this is all because you want to invite Cale?” Kyler asked, fluttering his eyelashes at his sister.

The prim and proper Sophia flipped him off, and Dorian barked out a laugh, while James and I grinned at each other.

“I’ve met this Cale, he seems like a nice guy,” I put in.

“I liked him,” Dorian added.

Kyler sat up and frowned. “Wait, they’ve met him, and I haven’t?”

Sophia rolled her eyes. “They were in town. You’re never here, little brother.”

Kyler glared. “I really wish you would stop calling me that.”

“I can’t help it. I now have too many big brothers, so I have to make sure you know that you’re still younger than me.”

“You know you’re going to hate that when you start to reach monumental ages,” Kyler snapped back. “And then I’ll lord it over you.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” I said dryly. “Mostly because I’m pretty sure all of our sisters could probably kick your ass once you start making fun of their ages.”

Kyler tilted his head, studying me. “You’re sure free and easy with the ‘our siblings’ part.”

“Is that a problem? I figure that the more I try at least, the less I feel like I’m going to want to find Dad’s grave, dig him up, and beat the shit out of him.”

“That was very violent,” Dorian said, as he finally broke the awkward silence that had filled the room. “And graphic.”

“What? You’ve thought it.”

“I was more thinking about lighting it on fire, but sure, we can beat up the bones or something,” James added before sipping his drink.

Kyler and Sophia looked at us like we were crazy, before they both shrugged in unison. It was quite funny to see.

My newest brother turned toward the window, staring off into the distance. “I haven’t really thought of the man often. Mostly because I don’t want to. I could give two shits about him.”

I let out a breath. “I don’t want to continue to do this forthat man. I want to do it for us. For our legacy.”

Dorian studied me. “Really? You really think that we have a legacy anymore?”

“We should make our own.” I paused. “I don’t want Dad to fuck up our lives any more than he already has.”

Kyler growled something under his breath, but I couldn’t quite understand what he said.

“I do like the fact that we’re trying. I don’t want the money.” Sophia paused as we all looked at her. “I don’t. I did well enough when I was a dancer. I saved everything that I could. And my studio is in the black, thank God.” She knocked on the wooden seat.

I smiled. “That’s always good. And I bet it helps that your sister’s an accountant.”

“Always.”

“I’m sure you’re great at business, and this is being completely patronizing, but if you’d like us to ever look at anything for you, we do this for a living,” James put in.

Kyler just shook his head, a smile playing on his face, and Sophia beamed. “Totally not patronizing at all. Because one day if I do want to expand, or change things up, I would love somebody who actually knows what they’re doing. I really just lucked into this career of mine.”

“So says the woman who tortured her body and broke toes and spent far too long learning dance and making connections in order for it to happen. You know enough,” Kyler mumbled.

Sophia melted. “You know, sometimes you are nice.”

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