Page 38 of My Scorned Best Friend

I sit there a while longer, watching him walk to Mom’s grave, each of my siblings glancing back at me when they hug him hello.

I grumble and turn off the ignition, open the door and follow him.

“Glad everyone could come,” Chevelle says. “After Nikki’s segment, it’s definitely time we had this conversation.”

“What?” I dare to ask when all eyes zero in on me. All three of my brothers have smirks I want to smack off their faces.

“You’ve completely lost your path and as your siblings, we feel it’s our responsibility to veer you back on course,” Chevelle says.

“Like a lost cub who’s strayed too far from his momma,” Adam says. I give him a death glare and he holds up both hands. “Hey, I didn’t call this family intervention.”

“Let me guess… Chevelle? The girl who pretends she’s not interested in anyone? The one who flirts with everyone but barely dates? Or was it Cade, who wants to tell me how great it is having a family once he got over his issues about loving someone as much as Mom? Or Fisher, who keeps everything he ever feels tucked up inside?” I’m not proud of my snide tone, but I’m not prepared for this confrontation.

“Well, it was me,” Chevelle says. “I figure this is something Mom would do and without her here, I’m taking the reins.”

I blow out a breath. I’d never give my baby sister shit for trying to fill in for my mom when I know how much guilt she holds inside because of how our mother died. “And what do you want from me?”

She shrugs. “We’re all going to talk to Mom.”

“But it’s not her birthday.” I push my hands into my jacket pockets.

“No one said we only have to do it on her birthday. Do you really only come here once a year?” she asks.

I shrug, because fuck yeah, I do. I’m reminded all the time that I don’t have my mother on this planet anymore. Seeing her name inscribed in stone doesn’t make it any more real for me.

“Let’s move this along,” my dad says.

“I brought little heart stones.” Chevelle hands us each one to place on the headstone. “How about you start, Cade?”

He rolls his eyes, always acting like it’s such a chore to be the firstborn.

“Hey, Mom, as you know, we had Leighton and she’s perfect. Other than the fact that she doesn’t sleep and Presley’s one night away from going crazy. But you don’t need to hear about the challenges, just know that Leighton reminds me of you. Even when she wakes up at two in the morning, she’s laughing and smiling. Always so happy, just like I remember you. Except when I’d wrestle with these guys.” He nods in the direction of me and my brothers. “Don’t expect another one for a while though. One is more than enough for now.” He positions the heart just so on her headstone.

Fisher takes a step toward the grave marker and starts speaking. “It’s Fisher. You have no idea how much I’m holding in the urge to put Cade in a headlock right now. I’m not gonna do it though since we’re here honoring you. I had twins for Christ's sake, can you believe that? So unlike Cade, neither of us gets to sleep through the night feedings.” He eyes Cade and puts his heart on the stone. “Love you, always.”

No one says anything for a few beats, we’re all quiet, staring down at the stone.

“I’m pushing ahead,” Adam says. “We’ve finally adopted Trey and I love him like my own, but our house isn’t nearly as full as we want it to be. So send down an angel or two so Lucy and I can fill our house with love, will ya?” He sets the heart down next to Fisher’s.

Chevelle stares at me and I roll my eyes. “Fine, I guess I’ll go. Mom, I think it’s safe to say that even though Cade can’t suck up a few nights of no sleep and Fisher is still as pissy as ever, not to mention, Adam’s quest to have a big family just like ours… there is only one of your children who need guidance right now.” I blow out a breath, knowing I have to lay it all out there. I refuse to speak lies to my deceased mother. “One of us has lost our way, transformed into a man people loathed, hurt his nearest and dearest friend who he’s developed feelings for, but can’t bring himself to admit it.” I set the small heart on the headstone and then groan. It was funny when Chevelle did this to Cade back when he was messed up about Presley, but not so much when it’s me.

“We know he can change, Mom,” Chevelle says, stepping forward and placing her heart down next to mine. “Thankfully he’s broken up with Giulia, who definitely did not bring out the best in him. It’s one step closer to being the Xavier we all knew and loved. Please help him get the rest of the way there.”

I throw my hands in the air. “What do you all want me to do?”

“The question is what do you want to do? What are you scared of?” my dad asks and sits down on the nearby bench.

My shoulders slump. “I don’t know.”

“Listen, X,” Cade approaches me. “If it’s about you not wanting to get hurt by loving someone, I get it.”

I shake my head. “It’s not.”

“Then why have you kept this distance between you and Clara? What happened two years ago?” Adam pushes.

“I don’t want to hurt her… again.” Silence fills the air.

“When did you hurt Clara?” Chevelle asks quietly. “Two years ago?”

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