Page 56 of You've Always Been Mine

“Grandmother’s family ring? Yes.” I’d been just as surprised when I realized what Grandmom had slipped into my pocket before I left her apartment the other day.

My father’s mother comes from a long line of money, and she inherited a good amount when she married my grandfather. Unfortunately, my grandfather was a man who valued his political ambitions more than his wife and son. When Grandmom left him, she didn’t take much, but she was sure to keep relics from her family; including her mother’s wedding ring.

“Woah,” Avery says again. She stands and moves to pick up the stunning two-karat diamond with deep blue sapphires on either side. “How did you get this?”

“Grandmom gave it to me.”

“Well, obviously,” Avery huffs a laugh, still shocked to see the expensive heirloom in my possession. “But why?” There’s a meaningful lilt to her tone that makes the knife stuck in my chest twist painfully.

It’s an effort to keep my voice from cracking when I reply, “I assume it’s because I told her Olivia and I are dating.”

“You’rewhat?”

Shit.I forgot I haven’t told my family about us.

Looks like the cat’s out of the bag just in time for everything to fall apart.

“When did you start dating Olivia?” Avery squeals with excitement. “I mean, I sensed something between you at brunch the other day, but I had no idea you two made it official!”

“We weren’t dating at brunch.”

“So when did it happen?”

“The next day.”

Again, Avery laughs. “I can’t believe it! You and Olivia are officially dating. I knew it was only a matter of time.”

I don’t say anything and just let her continue to ramble—which she does for two solid minutes before she finally says, “Wait.” Her forehead furrows.” Grandmom knows you and Olivia are dating… and she gave you her mother’s ring.” She gasps. “Does she think you’re going to propose?!”

The knife takes another ninety-degree turn.

“I don’t know what Grandmom thinks. She just slipped the ring in my pocket. She might be losing it.”

Avery shakes her head. “Grandmom may be a little early to the party, but she’s not losing it. Heather and I always thought you two would end up together. We even had a bet on how long it would take.” Amusement laces her next words. “Which I just won, by the way. So thanks for that.”

If this conversation had happened two days ago, I would chuckle at my twin sisters’ antics. But knowing what I know now, I can’t find it in me to pretend.

Avery picks up on my subdued demeanor immediately. She’s always been the more empathetic sibling—the one who looks out for everyone else even before herself.

“Derek?” She sets the ring down and returns to sit next to me. “What’s wrong?”

I try to think of an excuse for my behavior—one that doesn’t share Olivia’s secret—but the urge to confess my pain overwhelms me. I need to get this off my chest. I need to admitwhat I lost to someone who cares about me. I need to say the words out loud.

“I was almost a father.”

Avery’s eyes widen. “Excuse me?”

My body feels heavy with emotion—emotion I struggle to process. Dr. Cho might be getting a call for a virtual session later today. For now, sharing what happened with my sister might be able to help me come to terms with what happened.

“Olivia and I hooked up at your wedding.” I pause my explanation to gauge her reaction.

She doesn’t look surprised. “And?”

Looks like I’m the only one who didn’t know…

Shame further darkens my mood. I must’ve been a real piece of work for no one to mention it to me, especially when my sisters believed Olivia and I might be together one day.

Did they think talking to me about it would make me mad? Did they assume I was a guy who used Liv for a one-night stand?

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