Page 52 of Lessons with the Mothman

"Not if I don't know for sure that you're okay?—"

I nearly collapsed, and I was surprised to find it was relief cascading through me. "Oh, Emma?—"

"No, it's just—I know Mom said you'd need time and space?—"

I barked out a laugh.

"—and I get why it would be a shock?—"

"Emma," I pleaded, reaching for her hands, grateful that no one else had sat at the bar yet and the bartender was being fairly discreet while dissecting a pineapple in the far corner.

"—and I really do love him, but I can't handle the idea ofeveryholiday being so awkward and just?—"

"Emma, stop." I squeezed her hands in mine, and she choked on her words, meeting my gaze. Her eyes were darker than mine, but so lovely. Emma had always seemed so comfortable in the mold our mother had shaped for us, and I hoped that was true, that she wasn't suffocating inside the way I had been.

"Em, I didn't need time or space or whatever it was Mom claimed. Splitting up from Brettwasthe time and space I needed. And to be perfectly honest, I wasn't that surprised when the two of you connected."

"Oh, god," Emma groaned.

"I always knew you had a crush on him."

"Vic, I swear, I never?—"

"Emma, it'sfine. It doesn't matter if he pursued you. It doesn't matter if you jumped out of a cake naked the day after I left his apartment. Okay?"

She blushed, but huffed and tossed her hair over her shoulder, scented like a meadow, the strawberry blonde shade shimmering to pure pink under the lanterns, falling once more to a perfect, straight curtain.

"Sometimes, it feels like I'm just the replacement for you," she murmured. I opened my mouth, back straight, ready to chew Brett to pieces, before she continued in a rush, "That's just from Mom and Kathy. Don't worry. It's just…you know they got so attached to the idea of the families being connected. And when Kathy found out Brett and I were dating, she wasn't just happy for us, she wasrelieved."

"Kathy hated me, but she loved Mom. She's probably ecstatic that Brett upgraded," I teased Emma. It was easier than I'dexpected it to be to make jokes now. This was the only closure I'd really needed. Just knowing my sister and I were okay. "But Brett?—"

"It's not like he compares us or anything. He's very careful to make sure I know that he loves me and that's nothing to do with anything that came before, good or bad," Emma said carefully, but her voice was soft and her smile was sincere. She lifted a mango garnish from the inside of her glass and nibbled in thought. "If Mom knows you and I are good, she'll want you to be in the wedding party."

"Don't you dare," I hissed.

Emma grinned. "I was thinking about a pastel rainbow for my bridesmaids."

"Emma, I really want to be at your wedding, but if you make me a bridesmaid, Iwillleave the country."

She giggled, with just a hint of wicked intention, and for a moment I had to resist the urge to give her a strangling hug.

And then I realized it would be better to succumb.

CHAPTER 18

Victoria

"Areyou using incubus powers on him?" I asked, scowling as Lyle nuzzled his nose against the supposedly feral kitten who'd been visiting since the summer.

Lyle snorted, and the kitten batted him once on the nose and then butted his head against Lyle's chin. "Maybe," Lyle said, waggling his eyebrows. "Or maybe he just likes me better."

I huffed, glaring at the leggy little traitor as he squirmed and climbed onto Lyle's shoulder, settling around my friend's neck and starting a steady, motoring purr.

"I guess I own a cat now?" Lyle asked, wearing that familiar stricken expression of having your heart captured by the tiny paws of a feline.

"I guess you do," I said. "You can take him into the apartment with you. Hube and Sera won't care, and I've seen him use the litter box out here since I got him fixed. Thanks again for doing this."

Lyle grinned. "You know I'll be annoying you endlessly with questions when you get back from the fuck fest. Anyway, Frank's got his girlfriend for the weekend anddoesn'twant to have a threesome, so it's better if I absent myself."

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