and loose with the truth and I feel incredibly guilty for never trying to know my brother better. That’s why I sometimes talk out of turn to him. I’m simply lashing out because of the guilt,” he admitted.
“Well, you can try and repair the damage your father did now. I’m sure Gabriel would like to get to know you better without the usual hostility. He and Delilah have seemed to really hit it off.”
“Are you trying to fix my broken family?” Ethan asked, affection in his voice.
“I just know what wonderful men you both are. It would be a shame for you not to have a relationship.”
“I shall try and mend the bridge, but I can’t guarantee Gabriel will be on board.”
“He accepted Delilah’s friendship easily enough. He might be a bit of a tougher nut to crack when it comes to you, but with time I’m sure he’ll get there.”
“With time, perhaps,” Ethan agreed, and his hand resumed its stroking.
Somewhere along the way, we both drifted off to sleep. I woke up just before midday, Ethan’s scent surrounding me. Pleasant shivers shot through my body as memories from the night before flooded my head.
I knew I should go over to Finn’s and check on things, but I didn’t want to leave this bubble. Outside the real world was waiting for me, but it held absolutely no appeal. I stayed cuddled with Ethan for a long time, but I knew I couldn’t stay here all day. Finn was probably wondering where I’d gotten to last night.
I climbed out of bed slowly, making sure not to disturb Ethan, and went to find my clothes in the other room. I dressed quickly and left the house, making my way across the street. Rita’s RV sat still and lonely in front of the house. I let my hand drift over its metal exterior, wishing I could click my fingers and she’d be the old Rita again. The loss of Noreen had changed her. I just hoped it wasn’t an irreversible change.
“I take it you stayed with her last night,” Finn’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I startled, glancing away from the RV to find him standing on the doorstep with a cup of tea in hand. “What?” I asked stupidly, my heart racing. For some reason, I felt like Finn would be disappointed in me for spending the night with Ethan.
“I assumed you stayed with Rita. You never came back to the house last night.”
I stared at him now, my heart filling with guilt. Depending on the extent of Finn’s suspected feelings for me, hearing I was with Ethan all night could hurt him. I didn’t want to hurt him.
“I wasn’t with Rita,” I answered truthfully. “I went for a walk yesterday, and then Ethan came looking for me …” I trailed off, not knowing how to finish the sentence.
I glanced away from him, staring down at my boots like they were the most fascinating thing in the world.
Finn studied me a moment, his face changing when understanding dawned. In the space of a few seconds, I saw the ideas he had about us one day possibly getting together die a quick death. My stomach dropped a little because there was something reassuring about having Finn around. I felt safe with him. He shook his head, jaw flexing. “You were with Ethan,” he said, his voice flat.
“I didn’t plan it.”
He set his cup on the ledge and ran a hand down his face. “He can’t be trusted, not when it comes to you. You saw how he reacted to your blood the other day. If you’re with him you’ll always have to be on guard, and if you aren’t and you drop your guard, then I shudder to think what could happen to you.”
I reached out to touch his arm. “He wouldn’t hurt me.”
His blue eyes met mine. “You can’t know that for certain.”
“It’s a chance I’m willing to take.”
He didn’t drop my gaze for a long time, then finally, he exhaled. “Okay, if you want to be with a vampire, then that’s your choice. I don’t agree with it, but I accept it. And I swear, if he ever does anything to harm you, I’ve got a stake in my back pocket with his name on it.”
I pulled him into a hug, grateful that he was being relatively understanding about all this. When I pulled away, I noticed his attention had gone to Rita’s RV.