Chapter 94
The phone buzzes on the counter, dragging me out of the girls’ chatter. I grab it, frowning at the name flashing on the screen. Ivy.
“Elaine, you need to come home,” her voice is sharp but tinged with worry. “We need to talk. Now p>
I blink, my stomach tightening. “Is everything okay?” I ask, though a knot of unease has already formed.
“No,” she snaps, and then her voice softens slightly. “Just come home pleas p>
I glance at Tessa, June, and Lila, who are mid-laugh at something June said. I force a smile. “I’m so sorry, ladies, I’ll be back p>
They wave me off, but I notice June frowning, and Tessa giving me a concerned look. Lila just nudges me playfully. I promise I’ll come back, even though I’m not entirely sure.
I head upstairs, shutting the door of the girls’ room softly behind me. The sound of running water fills the bathroom as I turn on the shower. I step in, letting the hot water run over me, washing away the sticky heat of the morning, the tension in my shoulders, the faint ache that’s settled into my legs. My mind is already racing ahead, trying to anticipate what Ivy wants to talk about.
After a quick but thorough shower, I pull on fresh clothes, grab my bag, and head downstairs. Aaron is waiting by the car, his expression casual but alert. He opens the door for me with a slight nod, and I slide into the passenger seat, grateful for the quiet ride. The streets blur past, my mind running over every possible scenario.
By the time we pull into my brother’s driveway, something catches my eye immediately: Zane’s car is parked in front. My stomach drops. What the hell is he doing here? I’ve been over every argument, every tension between him and my family, and I know they’d never let him inside the house without a fight. Yet there he is, parked outside
Aaron notices my hesitation. “You okay?” he asks, glancing at me.
“I… I don’t know,” I murmur. “Zane’s car… he shouldn’t be here p>
He doesn’t push further, just lets me gather myself. I step out of the car, my heels clicking on the concrete, each step heavier than the last.
The front door swings open before I can knock, and I’m immediately hit with the weight of the room. All of my siblings are there, standing stiff, their faces drawn. Ivy is closer to the middle, her eyes wet from tears?and Zane sits on the couch, unnervingly calm, his expression unreadable. My brothers Caleb, Lucas, and Noah are tense, their fists barely hidden at their sides.
My mouth goes dry. I take a hesitant step inside. “What what’s going on?” I ask, my voice shaking slightly.
Zane rises smoothly from the couch, and I flinch. He moves toward me, but there’s no threatening edge in his posture this time…only a quiet, unshakable control. “I did what I had to do,” he says, his voice low but firm. “To save you p>
I swallow hard, feeling my stomach twist. The weight of his words presses down. Save me? From what? From who? My eyes flick toward my brothers, who watch the exchange with grim faces.
OCaleb steps forward. His jaw is tight, and his usual easy grin is gone. “Elaine,” he says slowly, sadness dripping from each syllable, “when were you going to tell us p>
I blink, caught off guard. The sting of guilt spreads across my chest. “I… I don’t know what you mean,” I whisper, my fingers curling into my sleeves. “Tell you guys what p>
I glance back at my brothers. Lucas runs a hand through his hair, his shoulders tense. Noah shifts from foot to foot, his usual teasing energy replaced by a serious, almost brittle alertness. Even Caleb, who’s always the loudest, is quiet, his eyes fixed on me, waiting for an explanation.
I freeze. My pulse spikes, my heart thumping hard against my ribs. The realization hits me in one crushing wave. Zane had gone behind my back, told my family my siblings…something I hadn’t even dared to speak aloud. My throat tightens, my hands ball into fists. I turn my anger on him
“No!” I scream suddenly, my voice cutting through the room. “No! You had no right! you had no right to decide for me p>
Zane flinches slightly at the volume, but he doesn’t step back. He tilts his head, trying to meet my gaze, calm as ever. “Elaine p>
“No!” I scream again, louder this time. My chest heaves, tears springing to my eyes. “You didn’t ask me! You didn’t wait for me to say anything! You just barged in and told them! My family! My brothers! When I wasn’t ready! You My voice cracks, and I have to step back, shaking with rage.
Ivy steps toward me, hands raised, her face gentle but firm. “Elaine, calm down p>
“Don’t!” I snap at her, cutting her off. My eyes are burning. “I don’t want to hear it! You don’t get it! None of you do! He had no right!” I jab a finger at Zane, pointing straight at him as my anger burns hotter and tears spill from my eyes. “You! You decided for me! You decided what you think I needed! Without asking me! How fucking dare you? We fuck one time… one fucking time and suddenly you think you’re in charge of my life p>
Zane’s expression hardens slightly, but he doesn’t argue. He lets me vent, letting me fill the room with my anger. His voice is quiet when he finally speaks, calm but unshakable. “Elaine… I did it because you need all the help you can get I didn’t have a choice p>
I laugh bitterly, a sharp, jagged sound. “Oh, you didn’t have a choice?” I step closer, close enough that he can feel the fire in my presence. “You always have a choice! You had no right to step in! No right to go to them before I could!” My hands shake as I wave them in frustration, tears streaming freely now.