Page 132 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
“If youwantto see them, you should,” Tenzin told her, as he put two fingers under her chin and pushed it up. “I, too, have a brother that I haven’t talked to in a long time. If he and his mates and children showed up and wanted to see me, I’d absolutely drop everything.” A wistful look crossed his face.
“You have a brother, Tens?” I asked, still holding Gwen on my lap.
“Yes. When our parents died, he was studying at a university. My younger sister and I were with our parents when they died. I was the only one to survive.” The pain in his voice, his scent, was evident.
“Tens,” I breathed, and squeezed his arm. Survivors’ guilt was a bitch.
Gwen got up and sat onhislap. “I’m so sorry.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “I went to live with Zaya in Nashville, because he was mad that I’d lived and no one else had, and convinced some of our relatives to send me to her. I’ve tried to reach out, but he’s even returned the gifts I’ve sent his children.”
Ow. “I’m so sorry you’re treated like that.”
“That is really shitty.” She put her head on his chest. “You have us now.”
“You do,” I told him. Someone was mad because his siblingsurvived?How awful.
“Thank you. He’d always been my favorite, so it hurt for a long time. It is what it is.” His expression grew pained as Carlos, Dimitri, and the others crooned in the background.
Gwen moved to get up, and he pulled her back down.
“Eat, Gwen.” His voice grew growly.
“Clark, I didn’t mean to dismiss what you said earlier. I hear you, and it means everything. Please forgive me if I don’t say it back yet?” Her look turned pleading, as she shoved cheese in her mouth, like she hadn’t eaten all day.
What did I say? Oh.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I assured. She could take her time in sayingI love youback.
As she ate her food and drank two beers, she showed us pictures of her ice skating and of her family and childhood. Her mother was beautiful, and her dads were all very imposing. My favorite was Gwen: tiny goalie.
“Hey, what does your family do? They have a company that some of your siblings work for?” I asked, trying to figure everything out a little more.
“They’re in shipping. They have trucks and boats and planes. You see them all over Canada. They also partner with other companies in other countries. It’s their money, not mine. I’m not poverty cosplaying, if that’s what you’re asking. I’ll be super pissed at Austin if he was.” She popped a little tiny sandwich in her mouth.
“I don’t even know what that means,” I told her.
“All I have is what’s in my bank account. I’m happy to show you that balance.” She grabbed a handful of nuts from the bowl on the table. “My parents didn’t have an education fund or trust, or anything like that for me. I was told that much when I was younger. If any relatives left me anything, no one told me.”
“If you didn’t have an education fund, did they not expect you to go to university?” I frowned. While my education fund hadn’t had much in it, I had one.
“Oh, they did. But you had to ask the dads and, of course, they’d only pay for it if they approved. Which was why my sisterIsa attended an omega academy in Vancouver and not a fashion school in Paris, like she wanted to.”
Oh. That seemed mean.
“My mom left me some jewelry when she passed, but it’s at my dads’, if it hasn’t been pillaged by my siblings.” She sighed. “If… if you want me to pay rent and stuff, I’ll make it happen. I guess when I was living in a closet, I could have called Matty, but I’d rather live in a small, dusty space, than ask my family for help.” Gwen lifted her head, eyes teary.
“The fact you’d rather live in a closet than take their help says everything,” Tenzin told her.
“I don’t need you to pay anything. That wasn’t why I was asking.” I shook my head.
“Yes. I’d rather be broke and happy than have all the money and be chained to a bed.” Her eyes pleaded with me.
My heart broke, and I pulled her to me. “Gweny. I care so much for you.”
Her head rested on my shoulder. “I care for you, too. Can we dance for a bit?”
“Um, sure.” It wasn’t really dancing music, but I’d give her whatever she wanted.
