Page 21 of Keeping Our Secrets

Michael would know what to do.

I laughed at the thought of Michael changing dirty diapers. Cause he would. It was just the type of brother he was. We bickered over the small things like shared bathrooms.

But not the big things, like decking Bobby Ryan for touching my books in the seventh grade. It didn’t matter that they were best friends. If anyone mistreated me, my brother was the first one to set it right.

Just about now was when I really needed his unwavering support.

Either that or he could just save me the anxiety and blurt out my condition to mom.

God, I missed him.

An icy wave crashed over me, so I pushed him away.

“Have you been drinking?”

“Only a couple, why?”

“Would you be trying to kiss me if you hadn’t been?”

He moved back. “I don’t know.”

“Then we shouldn’t be doing this now.”

“Why not?”

“We’re family now.” As I said it, I couldn’t help but add in more ways than one in my head.

“No, we aren’t. Our parents are married.”

“Can you stay here?” I whispered.

“Maybe that’s not such a good idea.”

Neither did I, but I didn’t want to be alone right now.

“Just until I fall to sleep.”

“Okay, just until you fall asleep.”

The next morning, when I woke up I couldn’t help but take in his gorgeous peaceful face.

“Like what you see?” he asked, voice groggy from his deep sleep.

I blushed and looked away. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer. He kissed my temple, then laid back and closed his eyes. Every time I get close to him I have to remind myself this won’t last.

Why was it the one thing that made me think about something other than what I had lost would be the next thing I would lose?

CHAPTER 10

Liam

The memories of the first night I stayed in her room were still fresh in my mind - it had been a little over a week since then. After we had the long-overdue conversation, the atmosphere between us was so much lighter, and we spent most nights either in her room or mine, laughing and talking until the late hours.

We had yet to take our physical intimacy beyond the point of heavy petting and grinding, with our clothing providing a barrier from going any further. We could both feel the tension in the air, but neither of us knew how to break it. I knew most of what was holding the two of us back had to do with our living situation.

That and our new familial connection.

No matter how much our parents wanted us to be a happy family of four, I couldn't think of Mairi as a sister. Especially when I knew her in the biblical sense. Maybe it would have been simpler had she not been the woman I had a fling with in Paris.

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