Page 80 of Forever to Fall
If she was being honest, neither was Mallory. Her brother had a knack for theatrics when he was in a mood, but this seemed like too much. What had Beckett said to get a punch to the face?
“How’s Beckett?”
“How the hell should I know? He left when CeCe came outside. Frankly, I don’t know if I want to see him again.”
“Oh, boy.” Mallory groaned. “You’re not serious. You’ve been friends for your whole lives. You’re going to throw that away because we’re dating?”Or whatever we’re doing...
Evan scoffed. “Yeah, it’s because ofthat. But it’s also the whole ring thing.”
Mallory froze, unsure what Evan meant by that. “The ring thing?”
Evan finally stopped his tap routine and flopped onto the couch, kicking his legs out and resting them on the coffee table. His nervous energy couldn’t be contained, and he continued wiggling his legs. The movement shook a stack of gossip magazines to the floor, but Mallory didn’t have the energy to care.
“You’re telling me you don’t know?” With his head thrown back, she could only see his profile, the vein in his temple throbbing an alarming tempo. He looked like their father every time the Browns lost a game, but she kept that tidbit to herself.
“I’m serious, Ev. Calm down and tell me the whole story. I’m clueless here.”
Evan swallowed hard, taking a moment to collect himself. “CeCe hates Nana Lawson’s ring. She told Beckett at the engagement party. Then he let it slip right after telling me he’s been sneaking around with you. Some best man he turned out to be.”
Mallory’s hand flew up to her mouth, barely containing her gasp. “CeCe doesn’t like Nana’s ring? What are you going to do?”
With a snort, Evan sprang back to his feet and stomped into the kitchen. “Please tell me there’s beer here.” He didn’t wait for a response, rattling the contents of her fridge around until he found what he was looking for. Stalking back into the living room, he didn’t bother offering Mallory a drink.
“I’m good, thanks.” She deadpanned, her mind still whirling with the fact that CeCe didn’t want the ring.
“You want to hear something hilarious?” He spat, eyes brimming with frustrated tears.
Mallory snorted. “It’d be a nice change of topic.”
“Emily called on my way out here. I unloaded all the Beckett and Nana’s ring drama, only for her to add another cherry on this crap sundae.”
Mallory paled, collapsing onto the couch by her brother. Fernando, for once, sensed she needed him. He sauntered out from the hallway and climbed into her lap, tail looping around her forearm. “What did Em say?” she asked, voice strained.
“You’ll love this,” he groaned. He took a long pull from the beer before slamming it on the coffee table. He raked his hands through his hair and muttered to himself. By the time he was done, half of his blond locks were tousled to almost vertical heights. “Em said you always wanted Nana’s ring. That it wasyourdream to inherit it. I have been in the dark on every aspect of my engagement since the beginning. My best man is in love with my sister, my sister didn’t want me to use the ring, and my fiancée hates the ring. How does everyone know everything except me? Why do I always feel like the idiot kid of the family?”
Knowing it was bad form to point out how hewasacting childish, Mallory tried another tactic. Holding up her hands, she slowly scooted toward her brother, trying not to corner him like a trapped animal. “Ev, can I just have one minute to explain?” Her voice was thick, as if she’d downed a gallon of honey. “Please.”
Sensing her turmoil, he put his sister out of her misery by dropping his arms to his sides and letting out a sigh. “I’ll give you two minutes.”
The corner of her lip quirked, but she wasn’t about to waste her opportunity to explain herself. “I didn’t know how to tell you.” She started, licking her lips and willing her heart rate to slow. “Nana used to let me play with the ring, remember?”
“Yeah, kind of. You two were always the closest.”
Mallory allowed herself a moment to smile at that, because Nana was one of her favorite people, along with Gram. “Thanks for saying that, but I don’t want to get off topic.”
“Then why not just say something, Mal? I felt like such a fool. Do you know how that made me look? I thought we were close.”
His words had their desired effect, rocking Mallory back into the cushions like she’d been slapped. “Ev.” She reached out, Fernando darting back down the hallway, but her brother wasn’t finished.
“And you know the worst part? I looked like some stupid kid who got carried away with a fanciful idea. God, I’m always the young, dumb one.” He leaned forward and dropped his head into his hands. Now Mallory was done keeping her distance.
She scooted over, taking his hands in hers and pulling them free until he finally met her matching blue gaze. “Evan, you need to listen to me. No one thinks you’re a kid, or a fool, or anything else you’re worried about. If anything, they think I’m the old spinster sister who can’t let go of a childish fantasy.”
Evan wrinkled his nose in confusion. “What are you talking about? No one thinks you’re any of those things. Especially Beckett.”
Mallory’s heart expanded—no exploded—in her ribcage. “What do you mean?”
“Yeah, pretty sure I’m going to have to kick his ass if he doesn’t get back together with you. But then I’ll have to kick his ass if he does.” He shook his head, clearing his head. “I literally have no idea what’s going on anymore.”
