Filed To Story: Craving The Wrong Brother Book PDF Free by Elysian Sparrow
“You don’t need to. I’ll just find my way home from there.”
“No.” He stands. “I don’t want you going home. In fact, move in with me.”
The laugh that escapes me is involuntary, light and disbelieving. “Knox, that’s too fast.”
“Too fast? I’m not asking us to get married right now.”
“Moving in together is the same as getting married.” I slide a ring onto my finger and glance at him in the mirror. “I don’t think I should leave my house just yet.”
“Then we’ll stay at your house.”
I shoot him a look. “Stop being unreasonable. You’re not staying at my house.”
“It’s either you move in with me or I’m going to keep breaking in every night until you say yes.”
I shake my head. “And you think I’m the stubborn one? I’m not moving in, and you’re not moving in either.”
Knox’ steps closer and picks up a set of keys from the vanity table, handing them to me. I recognize them instantly-Soraya’s keys.
“Take it,” he says. “It’s yours.” Then he pulls another key from his pocket. “That’s for one of the cars outside. Drive it to your mom’s place. That way, you’ll have no choice but to come back with it.”
I take the keys, feeling the cold metal bite into my palm as I close my fist around them. “Don’t wait up, Knox. I’m not bringing it back.”
“The
Comment ills after
Send gift
*
Outside, the evening air is cool against my skin. I drive through the familiar streets with subtle tension in my chest. The sun is just beginning to ser casting everything in gold and shadow. I keep glancing at the key he gave me, sitting in the cup holder. I don’t know what’s more dangerous-bim pod me this much access or me wanting it.
By the time I pull into my mother’s driveway, the sky is darkening. I park behind Nathan’s car and walking up the steps and knocking.
Jade answers and barely spares me a glance as he moves out of the way.
I step out, smoothing my dress once more before
I walk in, and the scent of rosemary and garlic hits me immediately. Laughter drifts from the kitchen. I follow the sound past the living room, where Nathan’s sitting in a crisp suit watching TV.
I wave. He waves back, the picture of composed anticipation.
My purse goes down on the nearest side table. I follow the sound of laughter into the kitchen and stop at the doorway. My mother and Serena are standing at the counter, giggling like teenagers.
“Hey, Sloane,” Serena says, spotting me. “Come over here. I was just telling Mom about the time we ran out of our apartment because of that fat.”
Mom tilts her head. “Why would you run because of a rat?”
“It was a giant rat, Mom. Scared the living shit out of us. And then Sloane goes to security and asks if he has a gun because she wants to shoot a rat.”
They both burst out laughing, carefree and loud, the kind of laughter that fills a kitchen and makes it feel like home. I just stand there by the doorway, watching them like I’ve wandered into someone else’s life. Any other day, I probably would’ve been laughing too-teasing Serena, rolling my eyes at the story, letting myself get pulled into the rhythm of their banter
But today? My mind’s not here.
It’s too loud in my head, too crowded with questions I can’t shake off. What if she actually cheated? What if everything I believed about my parents’ split is wrong? What if she didn’t leave because of my dad’s distance or his coldness or the way he used to disappear into work-but because of some choice she made? A betrayal?
What if she chose Serena and left me behind for a reason?
What ifs and more what ifs, piling up like static behind my ribs, buzzing against my chest until I can’t breathe right.
Eventually, they notice. They stop laughing. Their smiles soften, then fade. Serena glances at me first, then Mom follows, both of them finally realizing I haven’t moved.
“Sloanie-bug,” Mom says. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” I say, remembering what Knox said about today being Serena’s day and stepping into the light. “What’s for dinner?”
Serena starts listing dishes. “Grilled sea bass, mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, and Mom’s ridiculously addictive garlic bread.”
“Come join us,” Mom says, gesturing to the sink,
I wash my hands at the basin while Serena makes room for me at the counter. We prep together, Serena and Mom chatting like old friends, sharing stories, and swapping memories. I laugh when I should, smile when they look at me, but I’m half a second behind on everything. I can tell they notice. But they don’t press. For that, I’m grateful.
Dinner is ready just as the sky outside fades to charcoal. We gather at the table, the plates warm and steaming. The clinking of cutlery fills the room
“This is really delicious, Margot,” Nathan says mid-meal, looking up from his plate.
Mom gives him a gracious smile. Thank you.
And it looks healthy enough for the baby.”
The words drop into the air like a grenade.
“The what? Mom asks.
“Nathan!” Serena hisses.
Nathan blinks, clearly regretting it. “Sorry. You weren’t supposed to know that we knew.”
“You know what?” Mom says slowly.
“That you’re pregnant,” he says.
Mom shoots a look at Jade, who’s suddenly very interested in his glass of wine. “Really?” she says, voice sharp.
“Sorry,” he mumbles. “It kind of slipped out.”
“You men are the worst with secrets.”
“Why was it a secret, though?” Serena asks. “Why wouldn’t you tell us, Mom?”
Mom sighs. “I just wanted to be sure I could carry to term first.”
“Of course you can. You’re strong. What is it? A boy or a girl?”
“For now, triplets.”
“Triplets?!” Serena and I say at the same time.
“IVF statistics,” she says. “The more embryos, the better the odds.”
“And if they all survive?” Serena asks.
“Then I guess you and Sloane are each getting one.”
“No way,” I say, setting down my fork. “That’s not happening.”
“We’ll see.” Mom smiles. “At least now I don’t have to lie about why I have to pee all the time.”
Across the table, I notice Nathan giving her a signal-a subtle flick of his fingers. Mom nods slightly, then stands.
I’ll be right back. Need to pee,” she says, disappearing down the hall.
It’s happening. I can feel it in the air. Nathan is fidgeting. Jade is too still. Serena is oblivious.
The conversation turns awkward without Mom here. We talk about movies, traffic, the weather. Nathan asks Jade about stocks. I say something about a book. It’s all filler, pending when Mom, the life of the room, returns.
There she is now, holding a cake. A lit cake.
“Is that a cake?” Serena asks, confused. “Where was it? I didn’t see it.”
“I hid it,” Mom says, setting it down.
We can all see the words written on it: ‘Marry Me, Serena’
Serena freeres
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.