Page 95 of One and Only

They looked so young. So happy. Surrounded by the six of us kids—and all the chaos it entailed. I was mid-wallop on Parker, who was tugging my hair. Ian had his face covered. Erik was frowning. Cameron was eating a piece of cake with his bare hands, and Adaline sat in the middle, smiling perfectly without a single hair out of place.

I didn’t even need to hear her say it. She wanted their love.

We all did.

Carefully, I sat on the edge of her mattress and wrapped my arm around her.

Any advice I gave her suddenly felt cheap and brittle. Easily broken because I could hardly form the words without feeling like I might choke on them.

I didn’t have our parents’ love.

But just like Poppy, I’d always wanted it. Had always dreamed of finding my own version of it.

“They built something incredible,” I said quietly. “They found something beautiful and pure and amazing out of some really horrible parts of life. And they’d like nothing more than if all seven of us end up with exactly the same kind of love.”

She nodded. “They’re off to a good start. Erik did with Lydia. Adaline did with Emmett.” Poppy sniffled. “And you did with Beckett.”

My ribs squeezed painfully, like someone tightened a wrench over my midsection.

“I just wanted to know more about yours,” she admitted. “You’re the sibling who tells me everything. It’s weird to feel like I’m on the outside of this big part of your life when I can’t even imagine it.”

It was enough to break me in two.

She wasn’t trying to catch me in a lie. She wasn’t digging with malicious intent.

And somehow, that made it even worse.

“I’m not trying to keep you on the outside, Poppy.” I kissed the top of her head. “We’re still kind of getting to know each other. So we’ve been … protecting that space a little, I guess.”

She leaned into my embrace. “But the sex is good, right? I bet it’s really good.”

I pinched my eyes shut, dredging up the truth where I could manage it. “There are no words, Poppy. I couldn’t describe it even if I wanted to.”

Chapter21

Greer

Adaline squinted, pulling her face toward the phone screen, so close that I snorted.

“You look so cute,” I told her. “Another inch and I can count your pores.”

She centered her middle finger into the screen.

“Go closer to the mirror,” she instructed.

I did as she asked, and she nodded. “The neckline is pretty. I couldn’t see the beading detail from far away. And I like the lilac color. Very springy.”

I turned so she could see how the halter crisscrossed in the back. “You don’t think it’s too fancy for a wedding?”

She made a slight humming noise. “Depends on the wedding. If it was short, you wouldn’t have to worry, but because it’s floor length, it might be. You said Micah’s family is pretty wealthy, though, right?”

I nodded. “And he’s in a bigwig corporate job, so I think they’re going pretty high end on the ceremony and stuff.”

“Beckett wearing a tux?” she asked.

It was probably weird that I didn’t know that, but I managed a very casual shrug. “I don’t think he’s decided yet either. But I doubt it. A suit at most, if I had to guess.”

“What’s your other option?” she asked.

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