The sound of my brother’s shouting comes from somewhere downstairs, but I ignore it. He’s overreacting.
Mom and I clean up Emerson’s face before she leaves us to it. She pauses when she’s at the door and looks back at both of us still on the floor. “Just give him time. Don’t rub it in his face. I would tell you that maybe Emerson should go back to his own room, but I know it’ll fall on deaf ears. So… just be discreet, yeah?”
“I thought we were,” I say as she disappears, closing the door behind her.
“Come on, let’s go to bed.”
I help pull Emerson from the floor and after pulling off his jersey, I climb into bed beside him and curl into his side.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, kissing the underside of his jaw.
“It’s not your fault, baby. I knew it was coming sooner or later.”
“Did you mean what you said to my mom?”
He’s silent for a few seconds as he thinks back. “You heard that, eh?”
I nod.
“Yes, I totally meant it. He can dish out as much pain as he likes, It won’t make me regret this.” His arms wrap tighter around me and his lips press against the top of my head.
I lay there for the longest time, running the events of the night over and over in my head. It was my fault. If I’d just put my robe on to go downstairs, Levi never would have thought anything of it.
He came back up to bed a few moments ago. Every muscle in my body tensed as his footsteps paused outside my door for a few seconds too long. The last thing any of us need right now is for him to walk in and find us together.
Once I’m confident that Emerson’s asleep, I slip from his arms, pull on my robe, and quietly step from the room.
I make my way down to Levi’s bedroom and knock.
“Yes,” he barks, and I push it open and step inside.
I stay by the door with my fingers wrapped around the handle, just in case I need to leave fast.
“I’m sorry.”
“Are you?” He’s sitting on the other side of the bed with his back to me and his head hanging between his shoulders.
“Of course.”
“Sorry you ever touched him or sorry you got caught?”
“Neither,” I say honestly. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“Lys,” he breathes, pushing to his feet and turning to me. It takes a moment, but eventually his eyes lift to mine. “I’m sorry too. I freaked out.”
“A little.”
“It’s just… you’re my little sister and he’s…”
“Your best friend.”
“I was going to say a dog, but yeah, that too.”
Silence descends between us.
“Is… is it serious?”
“As serious as I think it can be right now.”
“Oh god.” He looks up to the ceiling. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I think I am.”
“Fucking hell, Lys. Of all the guys.”
“I know. It’s always been him though, Levi.”
“Well then, I guess that’s how it’s meant to be. Please just refrain from making me watch.”
“We’ll do our best.”
“Now get out of here and go and look after your… boyfriend.” The way he says that word makes me laugh.
Walking up to him, I press a kiss to his cheek. “Thanks, bro.”
“You’re really, really not welcome.”
I’m laughing as I leave his room, but I come to an abrupt halt when I find Emerson leaning against the wall outside Levi’s room with a wide smile on his face.
“What?” I ask hesitantly.
“Say it again.” My brows furrow. “I want you looking at me when you say it this time.”
“Wha—oh.” I step up to him and run my palms up his chest until I link my fingers behind his neck. He’s so tall that I end up on my tiptoes with the entire length of my body pressed against his. I stare into his blue eyes and swallow down the emotion threatening to clog my throat. “I love you, Emerson Locke.”
“I love you too, baby.” His arms come around me and I sigh in contentment; that is before the sound of my brother’s voice hits us.
“Really? Right outside my door? Fuck off.”
We both bark out a laugh as we apologize and make our way back to my bedroom to quietly spend the night proving exactly how we feel.
Epilogue
Alyssa
Six months later…
* * *
“I can’t believe you’re not taking me to college,” I say to my parents as we stand on the driveway. Emerson’s car is idling behind us, loaded with all my stuff ready to make the journey to Maddison Kings University.
“Someone