Page 143 of Their Greatest Strength

Blakely doesn’t say a word, but I don’t expect her to. The emotion in her expression speaks for itself. Nate comes closer and lingers at her side, touching her arm.

“I want you to live here for real. Not just because you’re supposed to. This has become a home for you as much as it has for me, and it should be official. I don’t want to wake up one morning and know that either one of you is leaving,” I say, relieved I haven’t butchered the speech I spent all morning memorizing. “As far as I’m concerned, the contract is null and void. Once it ends, nothing is going to change. Not unless you decide otherwise.”

Blakely stares at me, a tear leaking from the corner of her eye. Disbelief ripples across her features, but before I have a chance to convince her, a body is hitting mine with the force of a bus.

Nate hugs me tight, burying his face in my shoulder. I hold him back, keeping my eyes on Blakely. Something shifts in her eyes as she takes in the image in front of her. I’m unable to tell if it’s devastation or just a mega load of emotions hitting her at all at once, and that sets off mental alarms.

“You’d really keep us for real?” Nate asks softly.

I rub the top of his head. “Yeah, buddy. That’s my plan.”

“This is incredible!” He pulls out of my arms and rushes toward his sister. “Thank you, Lake.”

Her lip wobbles as she bundles him close and rests her cheek against his ear. “For what?”

“For everything. You did so much for us, and now look what we have.”

“I wish I had done more,” she whispers, squeezing her eyes shut.

Tears track down her cheeks, and I have to force myself not to move to her and wipe them away.

“You dideverything,” he says firmly.

It’s what she deserves to hear. The one thing I know she’s been needing to have confirmed by him.

They hug for a few more moments until Nate drops his arms and grins at the both of us. He tugs at the shoulders of his jersey and spins to show the back.

“What do you think?”

I clap his arm. “You look like a Bateman.”

Blakely stares at me, eyes wide and lips pursed. Her cheeks flush, and when she squishes her features, almost in pain, I freeze.

Nate stares at her, having the same reaction as I am. He’s quicker to push past it. “Uh . . . do you want to talk to Jamie? Alone, maybe?”

“That’s a good idea,” I blurt out. “How about you watch for dinner?”

“Alright. Yeah, I’ll do that. See ya!”

He’s gone in a blink, closing the door behind him. Once it’sjust me and Blakely, all I have to do is open my arms, and she’s taking her place inside of them.

The first sob that escapes her rattles my ribs, but the second rips them straight from my chest and plunges one into my heart. I lift her off the floor, and she wraps her legs around my waist immediately, clutching my back.

Carrying her to the bed, I rub along her spine, softly shushing her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry, baby.”

“Don’t,” she whimpers, shaking her head where it lies against my shoulder. “Don’t take it back.”

“Okay. Okay, I won’t.”

“I wish I could give you more.”

I sit us on the mattress and lean against the headboard. She stays on my lap, hiding her face as her words sink in. It wouldn’t be acceptable to tell her that she’s talking crazy, so instead, I try and rework my thoughts.

“There is nothing I need from you that I haven’t already gotten. I have you, don’t I? I have another brother who feels a lot like he was always supposed to be in my life. Both of you do. It took less than two months for me to know that I want you for keeps. Shouldn’t that say something?”

“Nate loves you, Jamie. If you ended up changing your mind, he’d never get over it. After losing so many people . . . I worry he wouldn’t let anyone in ever again. And that wouldbreakme.”

Gently, I press my hands to her cheeks and pull her from where she’s hidden in my chest. Even with her eyes red and cheeks wet, she’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. Toss in a sniffling nose, and she’s something out of a dream.

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