Page 114 of All Too Well
“We don’t.”
We absolutely do not, and that’s the rub. I love her. I have for a long time, and I know the way it will end. In a week or two, she’ll head back to her life, and I’ll continue doing what’s best for Rose. Giving her a stable home, with a father who doesn’t leave and where she is comfortable.
He laughs once at that. “Look, if you don’t hate her, then you are deeply in love with that girl.”
I chuckle and lace sarcasm in my tone. “I’m sure you’d love that.”
Caspian closes the trunk and leans against it. “You and Ainsley?”
“Yeah, you and the Admiral with your overprotectiveness. No guy stands a chance.”
“I wouldn’t hate it.”
What? Did he just . . .
“You wouldn’t?”
“No, first of all, Ainsley is a grown woman and makes her own choices. If I ever tried to tell her she couldn’t date someone, I think she’d marry him just to spite me. More than that, you’re like a brother to me. I trust you with my life, and I definitely would trust that you’d never hurt her. I’m not saying I’m advocating for it, because I’m pretty sure she’d kill you. She’s a scary one.”
I force a laugh. “She’s something.”
His eyes narrow and he looks as though he can see right through me. “Do you ... have a thing for my sister?”
I don’t know that I’ve ever lied to him in all our years of being friends. I’m not going to start now. “I’ve had feelings for her for a long time.”
His jaw drops. “I’m sorry, what the fuck universe did I wake up in? You do?”
“Look, Cas, it’s complicated, but know that I would never hurt her. Ever. If something changes between us, you’ll be the first to know.”
There’s no way I’m telling him about our current arrangement, and since there will never be anything more than this, it’ll stay right here.
“You know she loves you, right?”
“She might think she does, but she’s learning what an ass I am.”
He runs his fingers through his hair and sighs. “If she hasn’t figured it out in almost twenty years, I doubt she’s going to start now.”
I laugh once. “Like I said, I won’t hurt her.”
“Has something happened between you two?” When I go to open my mouth, he lifts his hand. “Forget I asked that. I don’t want to know anything. Just know that if you do hurt her, which I know you said you won’t, I’ll beat the shit out of you and I’ll take her side.”
“As you should, and if I hurt her, I’ll let you punch me until you’re done,” I vow.
“Okay then.”
“Okay then.”
He lets out a heavy breath. “Well, I better get on the road, and you need to pick up Ainsley.”
“We’re good?” I ask, needing to make sure before he leaves.
“Of course. I just ... I’m a little shocked, but maybe I shouldn’t be.”
“What does that mean?”
Caspian laughs once. “Just that I have a feeling the signs have been there all along, and I just didn’t want to see them. I don’t know, you guys have always had this weird thing between you. When you stopped talking for the last four years, I was afraid to ask why. Now I’m really afraid.”
I remember back to that night, when she came out like a goddamn angel who was going to take me from the hell I was in, and then I broke her wings.
