Page 39 of Entangled

Unable to hold back a smile, I tear open the envelope and peek inside. My eyes flick up to his. “What’s this?”

“Plane tickets,” he replies, wetting his lips while watching me closely. “When the trial is over, I’m taking you away.”

“Paris,” I whisper as emotion clogs my throat. “I’ve always wanted to go there.”

“I know. You used to tell me all the time when you were younger. You and Chloe planned to study there together.”

I search his brown eyes, unable to stop myself from reaching out to trace my fingertips over his stubbly cheek. His beard rasps beneath my touch. He leans in, sucking my bottom lip between his teeth. “Two weeks. You and me in Paris. We’ll leave all the drama behind. Forget about the trial and the death sentence.”

My fingers slide through the soft hair at the nape of his neck. I pull him closer, pressing my lips to his. His kiss is as fervent as mine, and his big hands grab me a little too hard.

“Fuck me, Grayson.”

His smile turns wolfish. “Since you asked so nicely.”

* * *

I’m rootingthrough the kitchen drawer—that one we all have where all the shit accumulates—when I hear a grunt followed by several thuds and a loud bang in the hallway. Leaving the drawer open, I run out.

Liam curses at the top of the stairs. “I fucking dropped it.”

The floor is covered in a sea of clothes, and his suitcase lies open next to the wall.

Pressing my lips together, I try not to laugh. “Unlucky.”

His feet stomp down the stairs while I start collecting his clothes.

“Just shove them in, don’t worry about folding them.”

Crouched on the floor, we work in silence. When the suitcase is packed, my brother reaches out to take my hand, squeezing gently. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“If you feel the need to keep asking, why don’t you stay?”

Staring at our clasped hands, he seems to weigh his words. “This isn’t my home anymore, sis.”

“You meanI’mnot your home anymore.” Tearing my hand away, I rise to my feet. I take a deep breath, feeling exhausted all of a sudden. “I have something for you.”

He follows me into the kitchen, where I continue rooting through the drawer while Liam stares at the note on the kitchen table. “What time is your dentist appointment?”

“It’s at four,” I reply, removing the single key.

“What’s this?” Liam asks when I hold it out.

“It’s for my Toyota in the garage.” I shrug. “I figure you need it more than me.”

“I can’t accept this.”

“Why not?”

He stares at the key in his hand. “It’s too generous, for one.”

Gripping the counter behind me, my eyes slide over to the window. It’s raining outside, lashing against the glass.

“Here, take it.” He tries to hand it back.

“You should have it. I don’t drive, Liam. I’m not like you. Skelton is my home. I might dream about moving away, but we both know I’ll still be here decades from now.”

A muscle ticks in his jaw. I know my brother well enough to see the war he’s battling. He wants to accept it because we both know he needs a car, but he doesn’t like to feel indebted to anyone.

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