Page 141 of Heart Strings & Hotlines
“It’s important for me to do this on my own, Eli. If I count on you or Thane to get me out of this mess, then am I really any better than the airhead Barbie doll dad tried to turn me into?”
“You don’t have to prove anything to him, Lottie. You really don’t.” His shoulders droop, and I hope it means he understands why I have to do this alone.
“And if I don’t, what happens when the next asshole comes after me? And the one after that and the one after that? The reality is, I’m a woman entering a male-dominated field. It will always be an uphill battle, and maybe that’s why I couldn’t see the enormity of my potential. It’s terrifying to know that I will always have to prove myself because of what’s between my legs, but you know what? It’s also incredibly motivating to know that no one will tell me how, when, or why I succeed.”
“Stubborn,” he mutters with a smile. “I get it, I do. But it doesn’t mean you have to do it alone either. Even the all-knowing Thane Wilder has support people working for him, helping him, and probably even advising him. All I ask is that you don’t go into this so stubborn that you shoot yourself in the foot. Asking for help doesn’t make you any less powerful. If anything, asking for help makes you stronger.”
“Support beams.” The two words suck all the air from my lungs with them. Thane has only ever asked to be my support beams.
“Exactly.” My brother nods. “You need support to build and grow. Hell, Becker and I did too, and you know what a stubborn, untrusting prick he can be. There’s no shame in having us all stand behind you as you take over the world, okay?”
“Okay.” I agree absently, my mind still on Thane.
“But next time, please don’t make me hear about you showing up somewhere at two in the morning, crying like someone broke your heart, from someone else. I’ve always been here for you, and I always will be. It killed me knowing all this was happening and you didn’t feel as though you could come to me.”
“It’s not that, Eli. Sometimes a girl just needs her girlfriends. I guess I’ve never been that girl before, so I get that this is all new for everyone, but I promise, I’m not as fragile as my behavior last night led everyone to believe.”
“No one thinks you’re fragile, but we do know that you’re human. Now tell me, how badly do I need to kill Thane?”
Hearing my brother say his name, even with a hint of protectiveness giving it an edge, helps ease the muscles in my shoulders. He may be pissed with the man I love today, but I have no doubt he’ll accept him tomorrow.
And that means more to me than I can vocalize at the moment.
“You’re not killing anyone. Yes, he hurt me, but I probably hurt him too by running. He doesn’t process emotions the same way that you and I do. For him there’s only black and white, so being in this gray area with me is most likely tearing him apart enough.”
Elijah’s glare softens. “Is it enough pain for him though? I’m sure the guys and I could come up with something.”
I laugh at my brother. Once upon a time, he was truly my protector, my hero, but now, I’m happy to have him as my friend.
“It’s enough. But, once things settle down, if you really want to stick it to him, you could drag him to a poker night with the guys. That would be torture for him.”
He smiles wickedly. “I knew we were more alike than you let on. I love the way you get revenge, sis.” He steps closer, opens his arms, and I happily accept the embrace. “In all seriousness though, are you okay? I’ve never seen you get upset over a guy before, and I know it’s more than just Thane. There’s a lot on your plate, but this thing with him, it’s different, isn’t it?”
I nod, then pull out of his hug. “I’ve never been in love before, Eli. It’s terrifying, and risky, two things I’ve always avoided, yet here I am, in love with an impossible man.”
“Love is only terrifying when you fight it, little sister. Once you open your heart to it fully, it’s as easy as breathing.”
“When did you get so smart?”
He shrugs and gestures toward the people sitting out on the deck, all pretending not to be staring at us. “You learn a thing or two when you’re surrounded by sickeningly sweet love all the fucking time.”
“Says the man who married his high school sweetheart and lives in a perpetual honeymoon phase.”
“What can I say? When it’s love, it’s love. Waiting to marry Samira until we were older wouldn’t have changed anything. Plus, eloping was my favorite way to stick it to dear old Dad.” He winks. “But if you get any elopement ideas, I will kill you myself because my second-favorite way to stick it to our father will be the day I walk you down the aisle.”
“Elijah.” I choke on emotions that bubble up fast and furiously. “You’ve thought about that? Why would you plan for something like that when I never even knew if I wanted to get married before now?”
He smirks as though he’s tricked me.
“Call it big-brother instinct. Now come on, let’s join everyone before those little munchkins eat all the good stuff.”
He exits the sliding glass door and enters the fray as though he’s always been part of a big, messy family.
If he can do it and not completely fuck everyone up, then maybe there’s hope for me yet.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
THANE
