Page 34 of Wicked Devotions: Part 2

Banks looks at his watch and then me. “I need to go.”

“I know. I’ll walk you out.”

I leave the ring on and follow him as he grabs his bag and heads for the door after exchanging goodbyes with Emerson and Cy. He opens his door and tosses the duffel onto the passenger seat before turning to me.

“Sorry it wasn’t a huge romantic proposal or anything. I just thought we all deserved to have an open conversation about it.” He holds up my left hand, looking down at the ring. “It looks so good on you, though.”

“It does.” I give myself a moment to soak in the sight of an engagement ring on my finger before melting into his arms. “It’s an absolutely beautiful ring. I’m so touched.” I give him a kiss on the cheek. “I always wanted to be Mrs. Armstrong.”

“You don’t have to take my last name if we do this, but I wouldn’t complain if you do.” He rests his cheek on my head. “I love you so much, Harper.”

I hug back just as tightly. “I love you, too.”

“I should go.” He doesn’t make a move to let me go.

“You should.” I don’t either.

He finally tears himself away and sinks down into his car. I take a step back as the engine revs to life. He rolls down the window to say goodbye one last time, and I remind him to text me when he gets back to his dorm. I watch as he backs out of the driveway and until his taillights disappear around a corner. Dragging one last breath of cool air into my lungs, I turn and walk back into the house.

Emerson and Cy are still sitting on the couch when I walk back inside. Cy scoots over and pats the space between them for me to settle in. I rest my head on Cy’s shoulder and angle my body so I can look at Emerson. I know Cy is going to be fine with whatever I choose to do. It’s Emerson who I’m interested in hearing from.

“What are you thinking?” I ask him.

“It’s your choice. I do wonder if it won’t just trigger your stalker to become more insistent, or worse, though.”

That is a concern I share. “Setting that aside, how do you feel about it? I know this is new, and everything keeps changing so fast.”

He grabs my hand and looks at the ring still on my finger. “I didn’t see it coming, so it wasn’t even on my radar as a possibility. It is a pretty ring, though.”

“It looks good on your finger.” Cy takes my hand from Emerson and holds it up to gaze at it.

“I want you to be happy,” Emerson says. “So if you want to solidify your relationship with Banks in that way, I’m okay with it.”

“I still need to think about it.” I look at my hand again, obsessed at how pretty the diamonds are winking in the light from the lamp. “I’ve always thought that Banks would be the man I’d marry. I just didn’t realize I’d also be in a relationship with three other guys who I care deeply for.”

Who I’m falling in love with.

“Just wear the pretty ring for now and know none of us are going anywhere.” Cy squeezes me and kisses the side of my neck.

“I should probably go talk to Declan.”

Chapter

Thirteen

DECLAN

The thought of Harper marrying Banks shouldn’t send me reeling the way that it has. In fact, his argument and reasoning for it is sound. He’s her boyfriend and has been for years. It makes more sense than Cyrus, Emerson, or me would. Especially me as her stepbrother.

Still I can’t shake the feeling of claws at my chest thinking about her promising forever to someone else. The thought of her walking down the aisle to him makes bile rise in the back of my throat. I’m not sure I can handle it.

I step under the hot spray of my shower, hoping the scalding water will rinse away the self-loathing I feel for being such a fucking mess. What if he changes his mind and decides he does want a physical relationship with her? Where would that leave the rest of us? It hasn’t even happened, and I can feel my heart splintering already.

Cyrus and Emerson have each other. Harper and Banks have each other. I’m just left here as an island on my own. They could splinter off into couples and live happily ever after, while I’d be left alone.

I finish in the shower and turn the water off before stepping out and checking the time on my phone. I have time to make it to evening mass. Time to think and talk to Mom is exactly what I need right now.

Harper is leaning against the foot of my bed when I open the bathroom door. We hold each other’s gazes for a moment, neither of us saying a word. As soon as I get my wits about me again, I walk over to my dresser and pull out a pair of boxers and an undershirt.

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