Her hand shook as she pushed open the door and reentered her family home. The words, the pain in his voice, the dismissiveness in her sister’s voice, the truth…everything shook Mekena like a magnitude eight-point earthquake. It almost didn’t seem real. All of it. Surely, it was all a dream. Before she could pinch herself, though, Libby came through the doorway.

“Kennie, I was on my way,” Libby said, but Mekena couldn’t even look at her. She walked right past her into the kitchen where her mother, father, and Skylar were sitting around the table.

“Mekena! You came back,” her mother cheered, but Mekena couldn’t even look at her. Not only was she mad that her mother and father were so clueless about the sluttiness of her sister, but she was also angry for the simple reason that they’d thought talking openly about the fact that their eldest daughter slept with their youngest daughter’s boyfriend would actually work. There was no fucking fixing what her sister had done.

At least, now there wasn’t.

“Oh, good,” her father said, and Mekena shook her head, her eyes meeting Skylar’s. Skylar sucked in a quick breath, her eyes widening as Mekena continued to shake her head.

“How dare you?”

Skylar shrugged. “What?” But she could see it in her sister’s eyes, she knew full well what Mekena was speaking of.

“You know what. I heard everything.”

“Heard what?”

“That you basically raped Markus!” Mekena accused, her heart pounding so hard, her ears started to ring. She felt so dirty, so sad and hurt for what her stupid sister had done, yet Skylar looked unremorseful. She looked the way she sounded, and that only made Mekena madder.

“Mekena!” her mother cried.

“What in the world?” her father asked, looking between the both of them. “What are you talking about?”

“What is wrong with you? Are you sick?” Mekena yelled, holding Skylar’s unashamed gaze. “How? Why?”

“Shut up, I didn’t fucking rape him. That’s just insane.”

“You drugged him! You sucked him off till he was hard and then tried to fuck him,” she said, repeating what she had heard. It felt like there was a knife in her windpipe, but she went on. “You lied to me! You made this seem like he wanted it, when really, he was a victim of your sexual assault. You shouldn’t even be sitting there—you should be behind bars. How dare you!”

“Oh, Lord. Dramatic much?” Skylar said, rolling her eyes. “We got high, we tried to fuck—”

“Lies! He had no clue.”

“Mekena, those are some big accusations,” her father said, standing up and crossing his arms. “I think you need to tread lightly.”

“Tread lightly?” Mekena yelled, her voice actually breaking. “I stood on the side of the house and heard it from her own fucking mouth!” She pointed to her sister, who just shook her head dismissively. “She drugged him with Xanax and took him to bed, trying to get him to have sex with her—and he couldn’t even stay awake. She played it off as if it was mutual, and it wasn’t. It wasn’t at all!”

“Skylar!” her mother gasped, looking to her eldest, and Mekena’s sister just shrugged.

“She’s being very dramatic. They both are. It was a party, things happen.”

“Rape doesn’t happen! It’s perpetrated by sick, disgusting people, you fucking whore,” Mekena screamed, her heart shattering as her tears ran down her face. “I don’t even understand. I can’t fathom why you would do this. I’ve spent almost two years thinking I wasn’t good enough. I wouldn’t talk to him, I cut him out—when he was the fucking victim! Because of you!”

“He wasn’t good enough—”

“That’s not your place!” she shouted, her voice rattling the windows. “This is my life. I am living it, not you.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” Skylar said with a roll of her eyes, still unconcerned.

“I just don’t get it. How can you sit there, so uncaring, after what you did? He was so upset, so hurt that he wanted to hurt you. But even you knew he wouldn’t because he’s not a fucking douche. He’s a good guy, and you hurt him!”

“Oh Lord, Mekena, get over it. It’s over. He’s gone, forget it!” she yelled. When Skylar noticed her parents staring at her, she shrugged. “What? It’s not a big deal. Just ignore her. Her boyfriend was a whore, and he wanted it. I couldn’t let her get hurt.”

“Why? Why would you think he would?”

“Because men are dogs! Come on,” she said with a laugh. “You have to realize that.”

“Just because you think that doesn’t mean I do.”

“I don’t understand why you have such a bad outlook on men, and why you think you need to push your ideas on Mekena,” Libby said, staring at Skylar.

Skylar scoffed as she held Libby’s gaze. “Well, you should! Dad walked out on you, fucked your sister, and then cheated on her again.”

“Skylar Marie!” her mother cried. “What is wrong with you?”

“That is in the past,” her father yelled as Libby took a step back.

“Excuse me?” she asked, and Mekena put her hand out to keep her aunt from moving. “You cheated on my sister?”

“It was a misunderstanding. So long ago,” her mother tried, but Skylar laughed arrogantly as Mekena continued to hold Libby back.

“I will gut you, asshole, if this is true,” Libby yelled, but Stan was horrified, shaking his head.

“No, it didn’t go that far, and Linda and I went to counseling. Skylar’s lying.”

“Whatever. It was last week,” Skylar accused, and everyone went silent as her father gasped.

“Stan?” her mother asked, her voice shaky, but his face drained of all color.

He pointed at Skylar, and he shook his head in denial. “That’s a fucking lie, and you know it!”

Mekena looked back at Skylar and shook her head. “Yeah, it is. She’s lying.”

Scoffing, Skylar was defiant. “I am not.”

“Yes, you are. Your nose always flares when you’re lying, and you’re doing this to get the spotlight off you and your issues,” Mekena said, completely sick over what her sister was doing. Had done.

Rolling her eyes, Skylar looked away as their mother spoke. “Are you doing drugs, Skylar?”

Silence fell over the room as Mekena really looked at her sister. She hadn’t done that in a while. She would just glance and walk away, so angry with her, but as she took in Skylar’s sunken face, her skinny body, her bloodshot eyes, she realized that her mother’s assumption could very well be true.

“Mom, be real,” she muttered, laughing. “I don’t do drugs except at parties.”

“You’ve lost a lot of weight. You’re always broke, needing money, you aren’t active in dance anymore. Be honest with us,” her father said. “Stop lying. Are you in trouble?”

“The girl hasn’t been honest about anything, and you think she’s going to own up to the fact she’s a pill popper?” Libby scoffed, and everyone turned to look at her as her eyes stayed locked on Skylar. “I know she is. She has three bottles in her room right now, under a stack of clothes in her second drawer. I found them when I was looking for a shirt I know she took from me. The bottles don’t have a label, and I didn’t think anything about it. I thought they were old, but now, now it all makes sense.”

Skylar laughed. “You guys are crazy. Those aren’t mine. I’m fine.”

“Why do you continue to lie?” Mekena asked, shaking her head. “I know you, I know you better than anyone in this room, which is why I just don’t get it. Why would you hurt me like this? Are you that selfish?”

“I didn’t do it to hurt you. I did it to prove to you he was scum. Jesus, get off my back!”

“No! You don’t get to hurt people like that. You don’t get to drug them and force them into sex and think it’s okay. No telling how much he’s had to deal with. I’ve been a complete bitch to him, and he didn’t even know what really happened! How do you think that makes him feel? How you made me feel? You have no fucking cares for anyone but yourself. That is just plain pathetic, Skylar. How dare you?”

“Oh my God, who the fuck cares? It’s over, get over it.”

“I will never get over it,” Mekena sneered. “I will never forgive you.”

“Whatever,” Skylar huffed. “Oh my God, everyone stop staring at me!”

“Skylar, if you’re honest, we can help you,” her father said, and Mekena let out a heavy sigh. Why did they always baby her?

“We are here for you, honey,” her mother added, and Mekena shook her head.

“Yeah, and let her off for all the pain she caused me—hell, all of us—with her lies. Let her get clean and then push us back together. That’s your plan, huh? Well, let me tell you right now, take me out of the fucking equation. I’m done.”

“Mekena! She’s sick!”

“Yeah, she’s a disgusting piece of shit, and I’m not going to forgive her. She doesn’t see a problem, Mom. The first step to getting help is realizing you are sick, and that bitch has no plan to do that.”

“There is nothing wrong,” Skylar yelled, but her eyes started to well up. “Everyone, let it go. I’m not a druggie. It was college, a stupid night, no big deal. I’ll apologize to him for giving him drugs when he asked for them—”

“Don’t change the story to make it look like you did nothing wrong. I know Markus, he doesn’t do drugs, never did! You did this to him. You ruined almost everything, you ruined me, and I don’t even understand how, Skylar. You aren’t that person. You’ve changed, and if it is the pills, then do yourself a favor and get clean.”

“I’m not doing pills!”

“We all know you are,” she yelled back, and her heart just broke. As much as she wanted to be there for her sister, love her, she couldn’t. Skylar had caused too much pain. Pills or not, Skylar had broken her. With tears running down her face, Mekena said, “And the thing is, Skylar, you’ve lost me. You pushed me away, broke my heart. And I know that right now that doesn’t matter to you, but one day it will. So if you needed a wake-up call, here it is.” She choked on her words, her sobs escaping her mouth as her tears fell off her chin onto her chest. She couldn’t believe this person who was staring back at her was her sister. The same person she’d loved and idolized for so damn long. She didn’t know this person, nor did she ever want to know her. “I hate you,” she cried, shaking her head as Skylar looked away and her parents tried to protest. “I hate this version of you, and until you find my sister, don’t contact me. Don’t even breathe my name. We are done.”

With that, she turned, ignoring everyone calling her name as she slammed the door and went down the front stairs to her car. Before she could reach it, though, bile rushed up her throat and then she was puking her brains out beside the house. Holding on to the house that used to be her safe haven, she closed her eyes as her body heaved. She hoped she could puke out the pain, get it out of her, but it was still there once she finally stopped retching. As she stared at the ground, she shook her head, unable to make sense of what just happened. What she’d heard.

It was all so insane.

And above all, how was she supposed to face Markus after everything that happened? It was her sister who made him a victim. It was Mekena who was completely awful to him. How and why would he even want to look her in the eye? Talk to her? Walking toward her car, she closed her eyes before laying her head on the roof of the car. She sucked in a deep breath, wiping her face and the snot from her nose. Everything hurt. Her stomach, her heart, her soul. She didn’t know what to do.

She didn’t even know how to face him.

But most of all, she wanted to hug him. She wasn’t sure if he’d even let her.

And that hurt her more than knowing her sister was a pill-popping whore.

When a pair of arms came around her, she froze until she saw that it was Libby. Wrapping her arms around her aunt, Mekena cried into her chest as her body shook with her sobs.

“Oh, Kennie, I’m so sorry,” she said into her hair, holding her close and kissing the side of her head.

“I just don’t understand.”

“That’s the thing, honey, there is no understanding addicts. They’re sick,” she tried, but that didn’t make Mekena feel any better.

Pulling back, she looked up at her aunt and shook her head. “I should worry for her. I should feel like I need to fix her. Or even want to fix her, but I don’t. I’m so mad at her for what she did to him. You should have heard his voice, Libby. He was broken. At one point, I thought he was going to cry. She hurt him. Messed with his head, and now it all makes perfect sense. He’s been so fucked up from this debacle that he hasn’t been playing the way he used to. I feel like it’s my fault.”

“Mekena, how…how in the world is it your fault?”

“I don’t know, she’s my sister.”

“But it is not your fault, and he knows it.”

“I just feel horrible. I feel like I should have known, like I should have given him a chance to tell me. But I just ran,” she said, her voice breaking and her tears rushing down her face. “I wasn’t there for him.”

Cupping her face, Libby kissed her nose. “Sweet girl, you reacted like any other woman would. This is all fucked up, and it’s gonna take time for everyone to heal, but in no way is this your fault.”

“I can’t believe this,” she cried, rubbing her nose and closing her eyes. “I just don’t get it.”

“I don’t either.”

“I don’t even know what to do.”

“Well, we gotta go to work. So you have time to figure it out.”

Swallowing hard, she felt her lip wobble. “I wanna hug him and tell him I’m sorry.”

“I’m sure we will see him, and you can do just that.”

“What if he pushes me away?”

Libby shrugged. “Then at least you tried.”

Mekena nodded, though that didn’t help or make her feel better. She was confused, she was heartbroken for Markus, and she didn’t know how this mess would ever be fixed.

But deep inside her, she knew it had to be.

She just hoped he’d let her help.

 

 

“No way.”

“Yeah.”

“No fucking way.”

“Yeah, I stood right there, heard it from her mouth.”

Shaking her head, Baylor leaned back in her chair as she exhaled loudly, patting Dawson’s butt. Her expression was blank, her eyes wide as she just kept shaking her head. Markus felt the exact same way. He was horrified by the whole thing. Violated and hurt, but in a way, he was thankful he knew the truth. Skylar hadn’t held back the details, and he felt he’d needed that to move on. He felt like he should feel more…pain, maybe…or something like that, but really, it was just worry. He hadn’t wanted Mekena to hear all that. He’d wanted to explain it himself, hold back some of the gory details, but she heard it all. That worried him. He wanted to know what she was thinking, what had happened once she went inside, and above all, what that meant for them.

If there even was a them?

Should there be a them?

Fuck, he really wanted a them.

“Are you okay?”

Looking back to Baylor, he shrugged. “Yeah, I mean, I guess. I don’t know,” he said, breathing out slowly. “I feel like I should feel more. I mean, I feel dirty, and I’m sure that’s to be expected. And I feel violated. Again, expected. But should I be broken? Or something like that? I don’t know. I’m just mad at her, and I hate her for what she did. I wanted to smack that smug look off her face, Baylor, and I’ve never wanted to hurt a woman. She was just such a bitch.”

“Oh, don’t you worry, I’m taking her out when I see her,” she warned, and Markus scoffed.

“Yeah, yeah, you aren’t doing anything,” he reminded her, and she gave him a look that said otherwise. Ignoring that, he looked back at his hands. “I mean, I don’t remember any of it, so there was no trauma. But shouldn’t I feel more?”

“I can’t tell you how to feel, Markus. It’s you. You know how to feel.”

He nodded. “Yeah.” Leaning on his legs, he dug his elbows into his thighs as he held her gaze. “I’m mad and violated and worried. And really worried about Mekena.”

She smiled tentatively, patting Dawson’s back now. “I can imagine. So she heard the whole thing?”

“I think so.”

“Man, that sucks to realize that not only did your boyfriend not really cheat on you, but your sister basically raped him.”

“And had no remorse.”

“’Cause she’s a whore,” Baylor said, shaking her head ruefully.

“Yeah,” he agreed, leaning back in his chair. He wanted to take a shower. He had already taken one that morning, but he still felt dirty. He wondered if that feeling would go away. Or if that was just one of the repercussions of what had happened. “Do you think I should go to counseling?”

Meeting his gaze, Baylor smiled. “I do.”

“Yeah.”

“You may not feel everything now, but you will, and if I’m not there, at least they will be. I’d go to Wren Lemiere. She was wonderful, and I think she’s still working for the Assassins. She travels with the team and everything. Always someone to talk to.”

Markus nodded. “Okay, I’ll make an appointment Monday.”

“You don’t have to, you can walk right in. I think it would be good for you. And if anything, what can it hurt, you know?”

“Yeah,” he agreed, wringing his fingers together. Even with all the emotions he was feeling, he couldn’t shake the worry for Mekena. “Should I call her?”

“Call who? Skylar?”

He laughed. “Fuck no. Mekena.”

“Why?”

“To check on her.”

Baylor shrugged. “Maybe just text her? No telling what is going on over there.”

He hesitated. “What if she doesn’t answer?”

“Then she’s busy. I don’t know, Markus. I mean, this is a lot, not only for you, but for her. Mekena said she thought you did it because she wasn’t good enough for you. That’s a lot to shake off, you know?”

“Yeah,” he said as he reached for his phone. But then he realized he didn’t have her number, that she had changed it. Clicking on Avery’s name, he typed out a quick message.

Markus: Hey, have you talked to Mekena?

Avery: Since?

Markus: Since the blowout in her front yard that I know you know about because your husband has a huge mouth.

Avery: Yes, and you’re right, he does. :P

Markus: I know. Anyway, is she okay?

Avery: I mean, she’s as okay as she can be. She’s upset.

Markus: Should I call her?

Avery: When I say she’s upset, she’s crying and shit. She wouldn’t want you to hear that.

Markus: Oh. Okay.

Avery: Yeah, but she’ll be at the rehearsal tonight.

Markus: Yeah, I guess I’ll wait.

Avery: Cool.

Markus: Cool.

But it wasn’t cool. He didn’t like that she was crying. He didn’t want to cause her any more pain. He probably shouldn’t have stopped, but seeing Skylar’s car and their house, he knew he had to. He had to get it off his chest, and while he was ultimately glad he had, he wished Mekena hadn’t been there. He hadn’t even seen her car, nothing to indicate that she would have been there, but she was and she heard everything.

Fuck.

Covering his face, he let out a long breath. When a hand cupped his shoulder, he chuckled but with no humor. “She’s crying and upset, and I just want to make it better. I don’t want her to hurt over me anymore.”

“I know.”

“I hate this, Bay, I do. I hate Skylar, I hate her with everything in me.”

“I know.”

Looking up at his best friend, he shrugged. “I want Mekena back.”

“I know you do.”

“Am I insane for that? To think she’d take me back after everything that has happened?”

Baylor smiled. “I wouldn’t.”

“’Cause you’re mean,” he teased and she laughed.

“And I’m too proud. But Mekena isn’t me, so I don’t know.”

What if Mekena was too proud? After all the pain this had caused her, did he deserve her? Maybe she should just move on, find someone who wouldn’t be a constant reminder of all that happened. But that just felt so wrong. They belonged together. This last two years had been shit, and he knew it was because he couldn’t hear her voice. See her smile or touch her butt. He loved her butt. He loved her. At first, he’d just wanted to apologize, get some closure. But now, he wanted it all. He wanted her; he just wasn’t sure if that was still possible.

“But then, I don’t know what y’all’s fate is. Fate does its own thing, and everyone else just has to hold on, do what it says,” she added and Markus smiled, nodding his head.

“I love her, Baylor.”

“Duh,” she teased, smacking his leg. “And she loves you. But let’s be honest, this is insane and fucking wrong. She probably blames herself because it’s her sister, and I don’t know… That’s a lot.”

“You’re right.”

“But I can’t predict the future, and if you want to try, I won’t stop you. I just want you to be happy.”

Meeting her gaze, he smiled as he reached out, squeezing her hand. “I want that too.”

“And if she’s the one, then pray God it works out because sulky Markus is no fun,” she teased and he laughed.

“Agreed.”

While he knew Baylor was right, he still had no clue what would happen.

But then, that was life. Full of surprises.

 

 

“So I’m walking out first, with my wife,” Jude said, and Markus scoffed as he bounced Dawson against his chest. He was on baby duty again.

“Why would you walk out first? I’m the favorite, and Avery is the best lady,” Jace explained.

“Matron of honor,” she corrected, and he nodded, pointing to her.

“That.”

“Yeah, but Jordie is the best man. So shouldn’t she walk with Jordie and you walk with Angie?” Jude asked.

Jace held his hand up. “Um. I’m walking with my wife.”

“I’ll take good care of her,” Jordie Thomas said with a grin, and Jace glared.

“That mountain man is not walking with my wife,” Jace said defiantly.

“He’s nice! You’re nice—don’t listen to him,” Avery tried, but Jordie didn’t care, he just laughed.

“I mean it doesn’t matter what any of you say. Baylor and I are going first, ’cause we’re hotter,” Jayden said, and everyone ignored him as Markus just laughed.

Bunch of idiots.

“Actually, Jordie and Avery are going first, then Jude and Claire, then Baylor and Jayden, with Jace and Angie bringing up the rear, pulling the wagon with the babies,” Grace Justice, the wedding planner, said. “And I’d heard a lot of you are argumentative and like to give people a hard time. If you are scared of my brother, Shea Adler, be scared of me because I kicked his ass in the womb and came out first.”

No one said anything, just looked at her as she nodded confidently before walking toward Lucy and Benji, who were talking to Autumn and River.

“Someone has to protest. I vote Baylor,” Jude said, and Baylor scoffed.

“Kiss my ass.”

“You’re the only one who can take her!” Jace complained, and she flipped him off.

“The order is fine, and it’s for Lucy, not us. So shut up and do what she said.”

“I don’t want that mountain man touching my wife!”

“So I can’t grab her butt?” Jordie teased, and Jace glared as Avery laughed nervously.

“He’s joking! Lord, this is insane.”

Knowing he had to step in, Markus cupped his best friend’s arm. “Bro, it’s fine. Thomas is a good guy, and it’s for like a minute. Chill.”

He could tell Jace wasn’t happy and planned to protest more, that was until Angie came over to him. “You don’t want to walk with me, Uncle Jace?”

Bending down, he took the little girl in his arms and picked her up. “Wait, what? I get to walk with you? Forget Avery! I’m good!”

Angie beamed as she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him hard on the cheek as Avery tsked at him. “Well, that’s not fair. He loves you more than me, Angie!”

Angie giggled as she leaned down, hugging Avery. “It’s okay, Avery. I love you too.”

“Oh, good,” she said, kissing her as Markus grinned. Angie was a cutie and had everyone, including him, wrapped around her little finger.

Benji above all, though.

It amazed Markus how a man could love a child who wasn’t his so completely, but Benji was a prime example of that. It wasn’t about blood, it was about love, and he loved that girl with every fiber of his being.

“Uncle Markus, have you seen my dress yet?” she asked, and he shook his head, patting Dawson as he toed Ashlyn’s stroller, pushing her back and forth as she napped. He was a pretty damn good multitasker.

“I haven’t. I bet it’s pretty.”

“So pretty! It’s light purple and has sparkles all over it.”

“I can’t wait!”

“Me either,” she gushed as Jace put her down because Lucy was calling her over. Markus watched her as she ran, and Lucy locked eyes with him and smiled, to which he smiled back. She looked elated. Wearing a sexy red dress that flirted around her thighs, she had on black high heels that showed off those stunning legs. But there was no reason even to ogle Lucy Paxton; she had eyes only for Benji. As Angie wrapped her arms around her daddy, Lucy grinned back at Grace as Markus looked around the breathtaking room.

Lights sparkled above them. The windows were pushed open, with long white curtains falling from the ceilings and blowing in the crisp air. The altar was something out of a magazine, which was to be expected with Grace Justice as the planner. Instead of pedestals for the flowers, big bouquets of white and lilac flowers were placed on thick sections of tree stumps around the large wooden altar that apparently River had made for them. White tulle was draped around it beautifully, adorned with more flowers and lights. Lanterns and candles were everywhere, positioned tastefully and elegantly. Nothing was lit up just yet, but the vibe was there, and Markus couldn’t wait to see the whole thing Saturday.

It would be beautiful, for sure.

When the side door opened, his eyes were drawn away as Mekena walked in behind who he had learned was her aunt. Mekena was wearing the same outfit from that morning, a long flowing black dress with a bright orange chevron scarf. Her hair was down, but unlike that morning, her makeup was gone. Which he knew meant she had been crying.

Holding her camera, she didn’t look at him as she made her way to where Lucy and Benji were. She tried to put a smile on her face, but her eyes were hollow and so full of grief. He wanted to grab her. Hold her close to him and tell her that everything was okay. That it didn’t matter. That everything would be all right, but she wouldn’t even look at him.

He almost went over to her to ask if she was okay, but not only was he watching Ashlyn, Grace had turned around, wrangling everyone together to start the rehearsal. He figured he could go sit down, but what was the point? He wasn’t about to maneuver Ashlyn when she was sleeping, and Dawson was content. No reason to bother them, plus he was fine and he had a good view.

Of Mekena.

She was looking at her camera, clicking and test shooting. She looked completely in her element, which was how it usually was when she had a camera in her hand. He remembered wondering why she thought she wanted to be a doctor. Yeah, she was wicked smart, but it wasn’t her passion. She didn’t get off on anatomy or heart transplants. No, it was taking the perfect picture of a leaf falling that made her beam with pride. He loved watching her work, and while he wasn’t sure what made her change her mind, he was glad. He wanted her to be happy.

He hoped that happiness could include him.

When Lucy started for him, he pulled his gaze from Mekena to her, smiling as she stopped in front of him. “Oh, they’re both sleeping. Shit,” she said, and he looked down to find that Dawson was sleeping too.

“Yup, they’re out.”

“Okay, so I guess they can just pull the empty wagon. Isn’t like we can train them to throw flowers and hold rings anyway.”

“This is true. They’re basically here for the aww factor,” he reminded her, and she laughed.

“Um, I’m the aww factor.”

“No, you’re the wow factor,” he said and she smiled.

“Thanks, Markus. How you holding up?”

“I’m vertical, which is always a good sign.”

“This is true,” she agreed, nodding before squeezing his arm. “Thanks for keeping the kids. I think we’re getting started.”

“Cool. I’ll be here.”

“Thanks,” she gushed before walking off toward where the whole family was gathering. Glancing around, he went back to looking for Mekena, but he didn’t see her. Pulling his brows together, he was confused…until he heard her voice.

“Wow, I think you missed your calling as a babysitter.”

Looking to the side, he found her standing next to him. Her arms were in front of her, holding the camera with her legs crossed, her body very rigid and giving off vibes indicating she wasn’t sure she should be talking to him.

But she was.

Smiling, he nodded. “Yeah, these two love me.”

“I can tell, great multitasking.”

“Thanks,” he said with a grin as he looked down at Ashlyn and then back to Mekena. A silence fell between them as they held each other’s gaze. “Are you okay?”

She shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Good.”

“Are you?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I got what I needed from her.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry she was so horrible.”

“Isn’t your fault.”

Biting into her lips, she looked down at the floor as he watched the side of her face. She was so pretty, her cheeks a soft rosy color while her lips were pink and thick. So very kissable. With a lump in his throat, he asked, “Are we still going to meet up after this?”

Looking up at him, she nodded. “If you want to.”

“I do.”

“Are you sure?”

He eyed her. “Of course I am.”

She looked away, inhaling deeply. “I thought maybe you wouldn’t.”

“You’re not Skylar, Mekena.”

“I know, but she’s my sister.”

“But you aren’t her, and in no way, shape, or form is this your fault. If anything, you’re a victim too.”

Her eyes started to water, and everything inside of him went cold. “I’m sorry that it happened.”

“Me too.”

“I should have given you a chance to explain.”

“I wouldn’t have because I didn’t know what happened. It took months for me to talk about it.”

“I still should have given you a chance.”

“I didn’t ask for one,” he said simply.

“Yeah—”

“I should have. But I am now,” he said, and she looked up, surprised.

“You are?”

“I am,” he said, his fingers coming to lace with hers, but then her aunt called her.

“Mekena, ready?”

Her free hand went up to her camera as she turned, nodding her head. “Yeah, coming.” Looking back to Markus, she shrugged. “I’m sorry, can we finish this later?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Good, okay, so—”

“I’ll walk back with you, and we’ll talk.”

“Awesome, okay, I’m gonna go.”

“Okay, see you in a bit,” he said, and she smiled as she nodded. He watched as she went to where her aunt and Grace stood, going into work mode. She looked so in her element, and he enjoyed seeing that.

Seeing her.