Page 88 of The Confidentiality Clause
“I was afraid of spoiling the surprise. We didn’t want you to hop on a plane to get away from us.”
I frown. “I just got done booking a flight to cometoyou.”
“You can’t blame us for thinking otherwise,” Shaw says with a pointed look. “You haven’t been open to communicating.”
I sigh. “I know. I’m going to change that. Starting now, I guess.” I glance over my shoulder again. I can’t tell if the shower water is still running or not. “Listen, Ariel wasn’t feeling well earlier. I’m not sure if she’s going to want company.”
“Is she okay?” Sutton pushes past me. “Where is she?”
All the guys take this as their cue to come inside.
“She was taking a shower. I said that to get you to stay out, not come in,” I emphasize.
“Brock, can we order…” Ariel’s voice trails off as she walks into her living room. Her hair is up in a towel, and she’s wearing a Duke sweatshirt and matching sweatpants. The sight of her makes me consider treason against my school. No one in those colors should look that good.
“Surprise!” Sutton yells and hugs Ariel the same way she did me.
Ariel immediately hugs her back with her eyes squeezed shut.
“What are you doing here?” Ariel asks, and I can hear the emotion in her voice. It makes me smile to see how much she loves Sutton.
“We came to throw things at Brock until he stopped being an idiot, but you fixed him before we could get here,” Sutton says, and the guys laugh.
“Hey, I resent that,” I say flatly. “I tried to get them to wait outside until I could talk to you.” I hold my arms wide. “Obviously, that didn’t work.”
Ariel laughs. “It’s okay. I know your sister well enough to know she can’t be stopped.”
Sutton smiles. “No. No, I cannot.”
Silence envelops the room. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me. Ariel gives me an encouraging smile and a nod.
“I guess I should explain,” I say–it’s a start.
“Everyone can sit in the living room,” Ariel says with an unsure smile. “I don’t know if you’ll all fit though.”
Since all of the guys but me are professional athletes, it’s not a small group of people.
“We’ll figure it out,” Miles says with a shrug.
“I can sit on the floor,” Jason adds.
“I’m good wherever,” Shaw chimes in.
“Are you sure you’re okay if we stay?” Emmett asks. “We can go if you aren’t up to company.”
Emmett may not say much, but he’s thoughtful. I give him a nod of thanks.
“It’s okay. I’m happy that everyone is here, it was just unexpected,” Ariel says as she takes a seat on the couch.
I expect Sutton to sit next to her, but she leaves a gap in the middle. I glance at my sister and she tips her head to the side.
“Thanks,” I say and take the empty seat. Ariel grabs my hand and squeezes it. I muster up a smile for her.
Once everyone is settled in their respective spots, the spotlight is back on me. I’m not ever nervous in meetings or even speaking on stage at events, but this conversation with my best friends is enough to make my heart race. Over the past few days, I’vethought about what I would say to them. Namely, to Sutton and Shaw, but they all deserve an apology.
I look around the room at each of their faces. No one looks angry with me. Even though they have every right to be. Ariel brings our hands up to her lips and places a kiss on the back of mine. It gives me the strength I need to push forward.
“I feel like I’ve gone through what to say in my head a hundred times,” I confess. “But now all of it sounds wrong.”
