Starless Nights (Hale Brothers Series Book 2) by Kathryn Andrews Page B

This is a side she doesn’t show many, and certainly not to me anymore.
    In the background, my ears pick up at the sound of Ali laughing. Looking back, she is jumping up and down and practically tackles Drew to the ground. They are sitting in the sand when he slips the ring on her finger, and brings her hand up to his mouth. Drew’s eyes shine again with tears as he kisses her ring finger.
    This should be a private moment for the two of them but seeing them both this happy, I can’t force my gaze away. It makes me wonder if Leila ever thought about me, about us. She had to, after all, how many times did we act this out as kids?
    Glancing back to her, I lose myself in thought. She’s no longer twenty, but she’s ten and she’s running around the beach in a white sundress looking for wildflowers to make a bouquet.
     

     
    “Beau, let’s play wedding?” Leila says to me, while I’m building a sandcastle up on Bean Point.
    “Why would I ever want to play that? That’s what girls do,” I say frowning.
    “Well, I'm not marrying a girl one day, silly. I'm gonna marry you. So let’s pretend.”
    “Fine, but Drew or Grant better never find out about this or they’ll make fun of me forever.”
    “Okay,” she giggles with her eyes sparkling.
    I love making her happy and I would do anything for her. I’m starting to think she knows this.
    Getting up, I wander through the dunes and find a piece of a dried palm leaf to twist into a ring. If I’m going to be marrying the girl, she needs a ring.
     

     
    My eyes catch on Ali’s ring. Did Leila ever save the ones that I made for her? Maybe she did or maybe she didn’t. Either way, they most likely would have been in that box that burned in the fire.
    Looking out over the water, I can’t help but wonder if she dreamed of a happily ever after with me. I know that I sure did, even after she moved, and as much as I hate to admit it, I still do.
    Even though we haven't been together for years, I never saw myself with anyone else. The thought or the possibility that it might be someone who was not her is nonexistent, and the thought that she might marry someone who’s not me, I’m internally shocked. I shouldn’t be, but I am.
    “So does this mean you’re going to be my sister?” Everyone looks at Matt. His expression is one of hope and happiness.
    “Yes, it does,” Ali says to him.
    Matt grins, his hair flops over his eyes, and he jumps at them landing on Drew’s lap between the middle of them. He’s hugging them both so tight, my heart clenches. Matt is completely unaffectionate. Other than a passing welcome hug here and there. I’ve never seen him like this before. I hear Mom sniff next to me.
    The three of them stand up and I make my way over to hug them both. I can’t possibly be any happier for them than I am at this moment, but that happiness is diluted with the sadness that is consuming me.
    Have I been living in such a haze all this time that I've completely lost touch with reality?
    Glancing at Leila, I have to walk away from this, from them, from her. My chest has constricted, I can’t breathe, and my eyes burn with unshed tears. I don’t care if Drew or Ali see me cry, but there is no way I will ever let Leila see me like this. This is a crushing, debilitating pain that is suffocating me.
    She didn’t choose me, she’s never really chosen me, and she isn’t going to. Ever.
    I don’t even know what I have been hanging on to. We are completely different people and we have been for a long time. The thought of her ultimately building a life with someone that isn’t me smothers me with pain. I’ve never wanted anyone but her. Only her. Now I feel even more alone and vulnerable.
    Why didn’t I realize this sooner? Boy do I feel like I have just been smacked with the biggest wake up call. All these years and all this time, what have I been waiting for? Everyone is moving on with their life but me. Drew is getting married, Leila has a boyfriend,