Page 65 of Secrets That We Keep (Forbidden Descendants 2)

Something meaningful, probably.

A freaking hat was not something you got a lover. But I couldn’t exactly announce that I had a wrapped nightie waiting for him at my place to open later.

“It’s just a backup,” I announced, feeling stupid and insecure.

He glanced over, saying nothing.

“Yeah,” Gracen spoke up next to me. “Now you don’t have to send me nasty texts the next time you misplace yours.”

“A text you deserved,” Fox shot back, sending him a wry glance.

“Well, try it on already,” Aunt Eva demanded, and since she was sitting close enough to reach, she leaned forward and ripped his current hat off his head for him.

“Hey.” He reached for his baby, but Uncle Pick snagged the hat from Aunt Eva, and it started down the line, moving further and further from Fox.

After a couple more prods to try the new hat on, Fox finally sighed and slipped it over his head. He adjusted the back strap a bit, then lifted his hands, announcing, “It fits.”

“Thank God,” Bentley breathed, taking his old hat from Aunt Sarah and rising to her feet. “Because I’m throwing this ratted old thing away. It reeks to high heaven.”

Alarm entered Fox’s eyes. “It doesn’t stink,” he argued but did nothing to chase after her and retrieve it.

When she pointedly opened the lid of the trash and dropped the hat inside, my stomach pitched with dread. Because what the hell was she doing? That hat was his most beloved treasure. How dare she throw it away?

When he didn’t even stand to retrieve it, stress mounted inside me. I’d honestly only gotten the stupid backup for those days when he accidentally left his true hat at my place. He didn’t like his head being bare. I just wanted to help fill in the small gap he’d go through without his old trusty one until he got his hands on it again. I never meant for this one to actually replace it.

I had to get his hat back from the trash. Somehow.

“Hey.” Gracen nudged my arm, making me jump. “I'm gonna work in the morning, so I’m going to bounce. You ready to go now or do you want to catch a ride home with someone else?”

I opened my mouth to answer, except I had no idea how to answer. I wanted to talk to Fox, except I was scared to death of talking to him. My nerves were shot; I just wanted to crawl into bed and draw the covers over my head. I’d been terrible at mingling with anyone tonight. I’d mostly just clung to Gracen and pretended to be involved in all the conversations he had with people. But leaving now felt wrong.

My twin sent me an amused grin. “Was it that difficult of a question?”

Oh geesh, he was right. I was overthinking this way too much. “I’m ready now,” I said, standing.

Maybe Fox would be less miserable if I was gone.

Gathering my jacket and purse, I glanced Fox’s way because, for some reason, I’d been aware of his exact location all night long. He was currently absorbed in a conversation with Cress and Cress’s new boyfriend, Maverick. As Cress talked with a flourish of exaggerated arm movements and animated facial expressions, Maverick watched him with awed fixation.

I smiled, glad to see Cress had found someone who seemed so taken with him.

Fox threw his head back and laughed at whatever Cress was saying, and my heart freaking cracked wide open. Oh God, talk about fixated. I was so gone for him it wasn’t even funny.

“I think we can get through this way,” Gracen was saying as he took my hand to help guide me through the crowd toward the exit. Away from Fox.

When we reached the entrance to the front foyer, I couldn’t help it, I glanced back one last time.

Beau was refreshing Fox with a new beer—for about the dozenth time that night—and Fox happened to glance my way just as he exchanged his empty bottle for a full one. His eyes flared when he realized I was leaving, and he lurched forward, bumping his brother-in-law out of the way so he could rush toward me.

“Uh…” I resisted Gracen’s pull as we entered the empty foyer.

He paused and glanced back. “What’s wrong?”

I pointed. “I think…” Crap. How could I tell him Fox was coming, and I couldn’t leave without at least wishing him a goodbye?

But then we heard a crash behind us.

My brother and I turned to discover that Fox had been bulldozing his way around the corner so fast to reach us that he miscalculated and cracked the side of his shoulder on the crown-molding edge that led into the foyer.

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