Page 65 of Scandalous

“You should know this has nothing to do with you as a person. I’m sure you are quite lovely, but when you eventually choose one of them, it will tear us apart.” I swallow hard, feeling my own eyes prickle as I make a very vulnerable admission. “They are all I have other than my mother. They were there through the toughest stages of my life. If I lost them, I don’t know what I would do. I can’t let you risk that for me. For us.”

I hear a quiet sob from her before she sniffs hard. “You talk like I’m some enemy. I’m only a girl. If your friendship is strong, it will weather any storm, but I hear you. I’ve heard you. I even understand it, no matter how much it sucks. There was never a way for me to get you all. Society would never allow that and with all your rules, I’m sure that’s in there. Like I said before, a pipe dream. It’s been fun while it lasted though, yeah? We had fun today, didn’t we? Even with the deadly zip lines.”

She finally turns to face me, tears streaming down her face.

That’s when it hits me.

She said all of us. She wants us all.

And I just fucked it all up. I pushed her away. There’s no way she will forgive me for the pain she’s in now.

Reaching across the center, I grab her hand in mine.

“We did. It was one of the best outdoor days I’ve ever had and I rarely have those,” I admit quietly.

She nods. “Me too. Thank you for letting me have that, at least. I think you should take me back now. I’ll pack and maybe you can drop me at the bus station in the morning.”

“No. We will take you home.” I squeeze her hand.

She shakes her head. “It’s too painful to imagine the ride back with you guys. I think this needs the Band-Aid approach and then a lot of distance.”

“Aurora, we will make sure you get home safely.” I use my stern voice that usually makes everyone do what I want.

It doesn’t make her though.

It never has.

“It’s a nice thought, but you don’t have to act like you care now.” She pulls her hand from mine. “I can take care of myself.”

I want to take care of you.

I rub my chest at the thought.

I really do. I want to be the one to take care of her. To do things for her.

“Take me back, please,” she whispers.

I sigh, putting the SUV in drive.

The drive back is silent. It’s not until we are pulling up that she finally speaks.

“I do want to thank you, Ezra.”

I’m startled to hear her voice after all the silence.

“What for?” I ask.

She turns, giving me a sad smile. “Allowing me to have them for this small amount of time has made me realize I haven’t really been living my life. I’m only existing. I don’t want to exist anymore. I want to feel alive. For that, I will always be grateful.”

She leans over, pressing a kiss to my cheek before climbing from the vehicle.

My hand finds the place where she kissed me and I know without a doubt that I just made the biggest mistake of my life.

* * *

We all heard the car pull up, but we decided to wait out by the firepit for them to come in. This is the make-or-break moment. If they had a good time and are on more friendly terms, there’s no reason this can’t work.

I glance over at Liam.

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