Page 160 of How to Prevent a Fumble

“I want you to promise me that this is the last time you use your money to get your way. You buy him off and you’re done. You can get me presents, but not as apologies. You can spend all the money you want, but not to make up for anything, Leo. You use your money to get your way this one more time, and you promise me that it won’t be used as a crutch.”

His green eyes look up at me as understanding sets within them.

“I promise,” he whispers, taking my hand carefully in his and sliding the ring around my finger.

A gentle calmness settles around me, my shoulders relaxing for the first time in what feels like decades.

And when Elara wraps her little arms around me and Leo takes me in his arms, placing a kiss on my forehead, I feel like I’m finally home.

“So,” Owen says, kicking a rock around with his shoe. “You’re happy about this?”

I sigh, wrapping my arms around myself. “Yeah, Owen. I’m really happy.”

He nods, looking around. His fingers thread through hishair. “You know, I know that you have a lot going on that you don’t tell me. I’m sorry that I’ve never pryed.”

I shake my head. “I didn’t want you to know, Owen,” I whisper, placing my hand on his arm.

He sighs. “I know. I just want you to know that I’m here for you. You don’t always have to hide what’s happening. I knew the guy was a piece of shit, I just didn’t know everything. I could have helped.”

“I’m your big sister, I’m the one who's supposed to be helping you,” I tell him sadly.

He rolls his eyes. “That’s not true. You help when you can, no matter who. I’m just asking to be let in next time, okay?”

My heart sinks. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“If it’s any consolation,” Owen smiles. “Leo may be an idiot, and yeah what he did to Isla and I was a bit fucked, but I’ve never seen him like this. You’ve been good for him.” He takes a deep breath. “And he’s been good for you, too.”

“So you’re not upset?”

“From the very start I’ve known that you know what’s best for you. I’ve trusted you. I think the same thing now. But if you’re asking if I’m happy about it? Yes. I’m happy for you.”

“Then that’s all I can ever really ask, right?”

When we return to the apartment we find it absolutely full of people. Some I know, some I don’t know.

I shoot Leo a wary look. “How in the world did you know I was going to say yes?”

“I didn’t,” he shrugs. “If you said no they would have been here for a fake engagement party to continue our fake engagement schtick.”

“We’ve been fake engaged for quite a while now for a party.”

“Never too late for a party, Sunny.”

I walk through the room, shaking hands and receiving hugs, when I get to Zara, who looks Leo up and down before smiling at him.

I look at her nervously, unsure about how she would react. She was never his biggest fan.

“You’re okay with this?” I ask, her opinion weighing on me.

“He called me two months ago to go over some weird plan he had, Briar. I knew it was coming.”

Shocked, I step back into him. “What?”

She shrugs. “I’ve been okay with it. We went to lunch and he showed me this paper?—”

I look up at him. “Did it happen to be titled How to Prevent a Fumble?”

She laughs and nods. “Yeah, it was.”

---