Page 119 of The Tangle of Awful

Fucking finally.

Aubrey

I’m in shock.

Still.

It’d been one thing to learn Spencer had kidnapped my mother and lied to my face. Sure, that hurt and was hard to comprehend. But then, the shockers kept piling on.

Mom was pregnant.

Was.

She delivered a baby—Spencer’s baby.

I have a brother. A real one.

The biggest shocker of all was how she’d weaseled her way between me and Spencer, manipulating him from the second she caught us kissing. I feel like I’ve been played by the person who was supposed to love me the most. My mother. Now, all I feel is disgust and betrayal. It’s nauseating.

Everyone left a few moments ago, but me and Spencer remained. He’s been sitting in the same chair as earlier, face buried in his hands. I’ve been staring at him, trapped between wanting to cry for the crumbling of our lives and laugh joyfully at the idea of having a baby brother.

My emotions are a mess.

How could Mom do this to me—to us? I never understood her attitude toward me. When she and Dad divorced and he would take me places or buy me nice things, she would get so jealous. Often, she would forbid me from seeing him for long stretches. It wasn’t until I hit puberty that she really let her dislike for me shine openly for all to see.

I had been so elated when she’d found Hugo. He was nice and brilliant. Plus, he had a son. I finally felt like I wouldn’t be in a constant battle with a mother, who hated me. That I’d have people on my side day in and day out.

Well, she took care of that too.

Made sure to make Spencer hate me the first chance she got.

“It should be me up there,” Spencer says, voice muffled by his hands. “I should be with my son.”

Nathan managed to get him out of jail, but it doesn’t mean he’s out of the clear yet. Going up to the hospital to visit the woman he “allegedly” kidnapped is just asking for the media to fuel the sensational story. Hugo and Nathan both thought it was best for Spencer to lie low.

Plus, he looks completely and utterly exhausted.

His hair is disheveled and limp. His clothes are wrinkled. And his shoulders hunch inwardly. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Spencer—preppy, arrogant Spencer—so not put together.

“Come on,” I say, rising unsteadily to my feet. “You need a shower.”

Spencer may have lied about my mother, but he was acting on behalf of the baby. He was protecting him just like he protected me by killing Drew. Now, it’s my time to offer comfort and protection.

He offers me his hand and I pull him up. I don’t let go of it, guiding him through the house to his bedroom. We make our way into the bathroom where I start the shower. I quickly undress and then glance over at him as steam fills the room. He stands there, dazed and frowning.

“Let me help,” I murmur. “It’s okay.”

His eyes lock onto mine, heat and love burning in their depths. He remains still as I undress him piece by piece. Once he’s naked too, I draw him into the hot shower with me.

“I let her use me,” he croaks out, perfect lips pulling down. “I don’t know how or why, just that it happened.”

Grabbing his biceps, I gently push him under the spray. “Manipulators are good at that sort of thing.” I run my fingers through his hair and then stand on my toes to kiss his lips. “You were her victim.”

His eyes flutter closed. “I was just trying to save the baby.”

I pour shampoo into my hands and then start lathering up his hair. “You saved him. He’s alive and safe because of you.”

He allows me to rinse his hair and then wash his body. Once I’ve cleaned myself, I wrap him up in a hug. His strong arms crush me to him.

---