Page 99 of The Girl I Once Loved

“Gael,” I say in greeting, completely shocked to see him in my parent’s driveway.

“Hi. I hope it’s okay me showing up like this,” Gael says nervously, sensing Noah’s unwelcome reaction to him.

“It’s fine.” I force a smile.

But as I watch both men walk in tandem towards me, I’m once again left speechless with the sudden realization that slaps me right across the face.

How could I ever believe myself capable of loving anyone that wasn’t my stepbrother?

In what world could that ever be the case?

After they both take the last step on the porch, Gael just stands there, waiting for me to make the next move. However, Noah doesn’t wait for me to make up my mind.

“Have your talk, Sky. I’ll wait for you inside,” he says, pressing his hand on my lower back as he leans down to press a tender kiss to my lips, using his actions to stake claim on what is his—my heart.

My cheeks must be crimson red as the door softly closes behind me, leaving Gael alone on the porch.

“I…um…maybe we should sit down,” I tell him, pointing to the patio furniture.

Gael nods and takes a seat on the two-seater while I prefer to sit on the chair to its side.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you until the wedding rehearsal tomorrow,” I croak out when Gael remains silent.

“Yes. I can see you weren’t,” he accuses under his breath, before running his fingers through his brown hair. “Shit. That was a shitty thing for me to say, and completely unfair. I’m sorry,” he quickly rectifies.

That’s Gael for you.

Even when he has just cause to hurt someone, he’d never do it. It’s just not in his nature.

“So it’s him, huh? Noah. Your stepbrother,” he asks outright, and again, there isn’t actual malice in his tone, just an urgent need to understand.

“Yes,” I admit steadfastly, looking him in the eyes so he sees the truth in them.

He lets out a self-deprecating chuckle.

“You probably think I’m an idiot.” He shakes his head, his knees bobbing away nervously.

“I would never think that of you, Gael. Ever.”

“Why not? I feel so foolish right now. I mean, all the signs were there. The reason why you never wanted to come home on the holidays. All the excuses you made over the years for me never to visit the home you grew up in. I mean, even that first night when we met at the Monroes’ yacht party, my gut told me that you two were more than siblings. But when we reconnected after college, I must have put that night in the back of my mind, unwilling to see the truth.”

Sensing his pain, I lean in and hold onto his hands.

“You had no way of knowing, Gael. I spent plenty of energy and time keeping that part of my life hidden, even from myself. I’m just sorry that it took me coming home to realize what you have been feeling all these years. I’m so sorry, Gael. I really did care for you. I still do.”

His brown eyes dim as he softly holds onto my hands.

“You just can’t love me.”

“No.” I shake my head.

“Because you love him.”

It feels wrong admitting something so personal to Gael when I haven’t said the words to Noah yet, so instead of saying anything in return, I just nod.

“Does he make you happy?” Gael asks, hopeful.

“He tries. He tries very hard.” I offer him a small smile.

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