Page 16 of Flynn

I grinned knowingly.

“And then what happened?” Sofia asked, totally engrossed in our story.

Ara sighed, and she deserved an Oscar for the note of wistfulness she managed to add to it. “His cards went on to explain that he had felt our connection since we were kids, but that he’d always known he wasn’t going to hang around in town after graduation, so he never pressed it because what would be the point? But he’d never forgotten me. And now we were here years later, and that connection strengthened ten-fold, and he wasn’t going to let this go again. He said that if I didn’t feel the same, or didn’t think he was worth the risk, then to tell him now and we could pretend this never happened because he’d been so careful not to say the words. But if I wanted to give it a shot and be happy, then I needed to speak up.”

I glanced around the table and noted the wistful looks on many of the women’s faces and knew I’d nailed the story.

“And...you spoke up?” Sofia asked dreamily.

Ara ducked her head but nodded. “I did.”

Kate gave a squeal of delight and Chiara laughed and flicked me a shy glance.

“So… why keep it a secret then?” Sofia asked.

Ara hesitated in answering, so I took over. “For obvious reasons, Sophe. I knew Ara and Ellis had a past, and I didn’t want to create waves in the family. Chiara was worried about hurting him and disappointing Carol and Trevor, and neither of us wanted to bring our relationship to light until we felt a lot more confident that it was real and for the long haul.”

Sophe looked between us with wide eyes. “And you think that itis? That you’re both in it for good?”

Chiara’s fingers tightened around mine and I looked down at her, seeing the shadows of doubt creep in.

“I know a good thing when I have it, Sofia,” I said, raising our joined hands to brush a kiss over the back of Ara’s hand. Her eyes met mine again, bright and tinged with nerves. “I won’t let her slip from my grip again without a fight.”

There were murmurs of approval around the table, but my eyes were all for Ara. Something in my chest tightened as those words slipped past my lips, and I worried that I meant them.

That wasn’t what this was supposed to be, though. I cared for her. I wanted her in more ways than one, but neither of us were in the right place for a relationship, and I wasn’t meant to get all involved.

You’re not good for her.

And yet…

“You keep eluding to this connection between the two of you,” Ellis said, his voice cutting through the atmosphere of romance and warmth like a dull knife.

I turned back to look at him and found his hard eyes on me. “But I don’t remember you guys speaking all that much growing up. Whenever you lost your shit or were in one of your moods, she was good at calming you down. She was like that with everyone, but I don’t think there was ever such thing as a real connection between you guys. You never hung out unless we were all together or you were being aggressive.”

“Ellis,” Trevor said in a low warning.

“I’m not trying to start anything,” Ellis said, holding up his hands in defense, but it was obvious as shit that he was trying to poke holes and get me to fire up at him. “Just saying I don’t believe this whole story about an unbreakable connection that lasted over a decade without them even talking.”

I’d practiced a lot of self-control where Ellis was concernedgrowing up. It was probably the only reason he hadn’t needed cosmetic surgery at and I hadn’t landed in jail for assault. After not seeing him for so long, however, I was out of practice, and my initial reaction to hearing him with that smarmy voice of his was to put my fist through his face.

As if she knew my thoughts, Ara’s grip on me tightened, and I forced myself to take a breath.

There was no love lost between Ellis and me. He’d hated me from the first moment I’d come to live with them, and even before then, we’d hardly even spoken. When we had, it was out of familial obligation, but we never got along or had common interests.

“I remember seeing their connection,” Uncle Trevor answered softly, winking at Ara before turning back to his son. “It was always there, but you only had eyes for Chiara back then, so it’s understandable that you missed it.”

“Yeah, I just don’t see it,” Ellis doubled down before lifting his drink to his lips.

I shrugged. “Being her first kiss seems like a big enough connection if you ask me.”

Ara stiffened beside me and the table fell silent. Trevor looked between the two of us seriously before weighing eyes rested on me. But I wasn’t paying him all that much attention. My eyes were on Ellis and the muscle ticking in his jaw.

“What the hell are you talking about?” he gritted out.

Sofia’s eyes widened and she gasped. “IsFlynnthe guy you kissed that night at the party?”

Ara’s fingers clenched around mine, but I was still looking at Ellis’s outraged face, unable to smother the smirk tugging at my lips.

---