Page 64 of Spreading Her Wings

He nodded. “It’s your sister.” Randy bounced his eyes between Katie and me, surely picking up on the way she stiffened next to me.

She followed me out of the bedroom and to the front door. In the hallway, I grabbed her hand, feeling it shake in mine. Andy stood in the doorway, with one arm crossed over her body to hold the other, hugging herself.

“I thought I might find you here,” she said. She looked at Katie, offering her a nervous, soft smile. “Can we talk?”

I ran my hand down Katie’s back, a hopeful reminder to her that I wasn’t going anywhere. “I’m kind of busy right now.” I gestured to the boxes spread around the house, and as she scanned the house, she no doubt saw Katie’s family standing in the living room.

“I know. I promise I’ll be quick.”

Katie sighed, nudging me forward without a word. The door closing behind us when we stepped onto the porch was loud, and as I leaned against the front of the house, I was desperate to see Katie’s face. “You had to come here to talk to me? You couldn’t call?”

“I was coming over anyway.” Andy hesitated before continuing. “I just… I came to tell you I get it. I’m mad you lied to me and hid it from me. I mean, you married my best friend, and I didn’t even get to come to the wedding. I didn’t even get to know about it.”

“Andy, I’m sorry—”

She interrupted me. “Let me finish. I’m mad you guys kept a big secret, but I know she loves you the way I love Demetri. I want you to feel what I feel for that man every single day.” Andyscowled, half glaring at me. “Promise me you love her, Auston. Like really love her?”

“I love her more than I ever knew was possible. She is everything. She ismyeverything.” I didn’t blink, holding the stare that mirrored mine. Hers welled with tears.

“You better not hurt her,” she said, turning suddenly serious. “I told her the same thing.”

“Never.” I meant it. I would do anything to stop Katie from ever hurting again. “So you forgive us?”

Andy rolled her eyes, but the smile that tugged at her lips betrayed her. “Forgiving is a bit of a stretch, but I am happy for you. So… I’m okay with it. I’ll get over the rest.”

I grabbed my sister by the arms and tugged her against me, wrapping her in a bear hug and squeezing until she squeaked and tried to push away. “Thank you,” I whispered.

When I moved to open the door, Andy followed. “I’m going to stay and help, if that’s okay?”

Nodding, I opened the painted oak door and stepped into the house. Katie sat on the stairs in the entryway, chewing on what was left of her right thumbnail, and when we walked into the house, she jumped up. Her ponytail bounced slightly when she looked between Andy and me.

“We’re okay,” Andy said. Katie moved quickly to nearly tackle her, fresh tears running down her cheeks.

While the two of them hugged, I moved to stand behind Katie, folding my arms around both of them and sandwiching her between us. Her body shook with quiet sobs, but when she looked up, there was a smile on her face. “I thought I was going to lose you,” she said before kissing Andy on the cheek.

“Never,” she said, winking at me.

“Thank you for being here.” Katie rotated the ring on her finger.

Andy looked at Katie’s hands and suppressed a slight cringe. “I will always be here. I might be mad at you, but you’re my best friend. I’ll always be here for you.”

With a laugh, Katie straightened her ring and shrugged. “Technically. you’re my sister now.”

Realization brought surprise to Andy’s face, and she squealed. “You’re right! You and Jules have always been like sisters to me, but now it’s official.Bothof you!” She paused. “I’m still mad I didn’t get to be your maid of honor, though. Who gets married in Vegas?!”

I laughed, listening as their words turned to mumbled excitement. It was as if they spoke a different language only they understood, and when Randy walked up behind me, he chuckled. “She’s not wrong,” he said, turning our attention to him.

My chest squeezed with guilt. “I guess I probably should ask your permission, huh?”

“You had our permission when Katie fell in love with you,” Randy said. “She’s always been smart enough to make the right decisions.”

“I would’ve still rather she had a wedding,” Cheryl chimed in, joining us with a smile on her face. “But I couldn’t have picked a better husband for her.”

“Me neither.” Andy laughed, and Katie nudged her.

“Me neither,” she added with a wink.

“Our house.” I hung the last hanger in the closet, mumbling to myself with a smile. A laugh behind me made me turn around. Katie stood by the dresser, the shorts and knee-high socks she wore leaving just her thighs exposed, and I slowly dragged my eyes up her body to her face.

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