Page 80 of Since Always

"That's his ex?" I ask her.

"Yeah," she nods. "It's bad. What he did to her. I think it would stop him from making any moves. But, let me just call her and make sure she's okay with us using it as blackmail. It's personal to her, and I can't give it to you if she's not comfortable with it."

"Absolutely," Owen says. "And let her know that I will not use it for anything other than this. That I wouldn't use it at all if it wasn't so important."

Stephanie agrees and grabs her phone and walks into the kitchen to make her call.

Owen turns to Chris, who hasn't stopped staring at him with rage splashed across his entire face.

"So," my brother says slowly. "You're sleeping with my sister, and you came here to 'come clean' with me, not because you felt like it was the right thing to do, but because you need me to help you threaten Mark Reynolds."

"There was nothing to tell as of yesterday," Owen says, his voice just as measured. "We had decided to put it all behind us. But we got caught up in the moment and got careless last night. Look, man, if you want to hit me..."

"If?"

"Just do it and get it over with, then. I won't stop you. I won't defend myself."

"And then what? We'll be cool? And then you guys can go home together, and we can all be a happy family? You can't fix this, Owen. It doesn't go away because I hit you. You and I are done, bro. This is it."

"Firstly," I say, my throat tight with anger. "We are not together. We made a goddamn mistake last night. But secondly, you don't get to decide who I date."

His jaw clenches. "This isn't about me being overprotective of you with some guy. This is about my best friend betraying me."

"He didn't do anything to you. I am not your property or responsibility. Whatever happened between he and I doesn't affect you."

"Oh, okay," he says, his voice full of sarcasm. "Great. So, my girlfriend isn't currently on the phone figuring out a way we can blackmail a US Senator, right? And she's not doing that so that my company doesn't face an absolute onslaught of bad press tomorrow? Cool. Great. If it doesn't affect me, then why the hell are you here, Cassidy."

"Your beef is with me. Don't fight with your sister over this," Owen says.

"I'll fight with whoever I want to, thanks, Owen."

"You're being such a dick," I say, and I'm saved from his response by Stephanie, who comes back in the room.

"She's fine. Thrilled to help, honestly. She said if you need anything to let her know, she'd be happy to go on the record or go public herself if she needs to."

"Tell her thank you the next time you talk to her, please." Owen says. "I'm going to confront him in person, so if you want to just tell me what it is..."

"I'm going with you," Chris says.

"You don't have to..."

"If you think I'm going for you, you've lost your fucking mind. This comes out tomorrow, like this? The Sloane name gets dragged through the mud and the company gets tangled up in your political scandal and the downfall of your career. Also," he says, turning to me, “this piece of human garbage doesn't get to threaten my sister. I'm going."

"Maybe I should go too," I say, but Owen grabs my hand and shakes his head.

"No, let me deal with this, Cass. You don't need to be…Let your brother and I do this, okay?" And there is something in his eyes that tells me he needs it to be just him. Just them. That maybe doing this together can help salvage some of what's been lost today.

I nod.

When we turn back to Chris, he is watching us together.

"I can't believe you two. I can't believe this is real. How in the hell did this happen?"

Owen reaches down and squeezes my hand.

"She grew up. I know it's hard for you to see. I know, to you, she will always be the kid she once was, but she's not anymore. She's an incredible woman, which, of course, she is—she's a Sloane. She is the best parts of all of you. And neither of us ever wanted to hurt you. We both love you more than you'll ever know, and I am sorry that we went behind your back. But I can't be sorry that it happened."

After they leave, I sit on the couch next to Stephanie, and she pulls me into her when the tears come.

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