13. Clara

Chapter 13

Clara

"What the fuck are the two of you doing here?" I scream. I can't handle Miles and Hunter after what just happened between Ethan and me.

"Whoa, baby sister. No need to f-bomb us," Miles says.

"Yeah, we're here because everyone's worried." Hunter comes over to hug me and I start to break down.

Tears are flowing down my face and my brothers look at each other in distress. None of the St. James boys are good with crying women.

Miles turns to Ethan. "What did you do to her?"

"That's between us," Ethan answers and then introduces himself.

"Are you the reason she's been acting weird?" Miles starts puffing up his chest and I just know that if I don't step in, he's going to try and defend my honor or some weird crap.

"I haven't been acting weird, Miles. I've been acting like a woman in love."

Ethan turns to me. "Love."

"I didn't mean to say that." I gasp.

He goes around my brothers and grabs my hands, "But you did. You said you love me."

I nod my head. "I do, but everything else is still the same. Nothing else has changed."

"Everything has changed, angel. I love you, too. If we love each other, we can work through the other bullshit."

"Would someone like to fill us in?" asks Miles as Hunter hits him across the back of the head. That's usually my job when one of them is being a bonehead.

"I'm pretty sure our baby sister has fallen in love and will be making some big life decisions," Hunter says with a smile.

I burst into tears again and run over to him. He pulls me into his arms and holds me tight. "Clara Bear, you should be happy. You're in love and it sounds like he loves you back."

I nod, but I can't do anything else but cry. This is all so hopeless.

Hunter keeps his arms around me and says to the other two men in the room who are standing like statues, "I'm going to take my sister for a little walk. We'll be right back."

Ethan starts to object, but Miles stops him. As we leave the room, I hear him tell Ethan, "Hunter will know what to do. He's the Clara Whisperer."

We walk out to the deck of the boat and stand in the sun. It feels good against my skin, but I still can't smile. My heart is breaking, and I know there's no way to fix this mess. I can't choose between my family and Ethan.

"Explain it to me, Clara. What is keeping you from jumping up and down and freaking out?"

"Our lives aren't compatible. He's a billionaire who wants to travel on this yacht that he calls a boat, having exciting adventures and living in different places all the time. I have been working for years to earn my place in the family – I mean at St. James C & D. My home is Star Mountain."

"One, you don't need to earn a place in our family. I'll tell you a secret – you are the most important part. Have you noticed that we all come to you for advice or when we feel bad? Some of us might act like we don't want your help, or like we think you're too young, but it's just what big brothers do. All five of us think you are the most amazing person. When you were born, Wilder and Knox fought over who got to hold you so much that Mom used to ground them from you. It was a great punishment too."

"I know I'm part of the family. I meant the business." Although I'm not sure what I actually did mean.

"Do you want to be an accountant? Honestly?"

"Of course! Why would I have gone to school for something I don't want to do?" My tone is belligerent because I know that he's sort of right. I went to school to become a CPA because there was a need within the company. It was where I could help, and I'm good at math.

"Do you think that I'm less of a member of our family because I don't work for St. James C & D?"

"That's ridiculous. You're a veterinarian, it's not like you don't have an amazing job. Don't be dumb, you're not any less of a member of the family." I suddenly understand his point. I've been trying to make myself fit into what I think they want me to be. But it isn't my family that has the expectations. I've put those on myself.

"If you wanted to be something other than a CPA, what would it be?"

"I don't know. I've never thought about being anything else."

"Do you want to be a CPA enough to go back to Star Mountain with or without Ethan?"

I stand looking out at the water. That's the big question, isn't it? Is love enough to change the whole course of my life? I know my two oldest brothers would say absolutely, and it seems like maybe my single brothers would agree.

"I think I need to talk to Ethan." I hug my brother and kiss his cheek, then I lean very close and whisper in his ear, "You've always been my favorite."

His head falls back in laughter, "Clara, we know that you tell us all that, but I'll take it. I love you, Clara Bear."

"I love you, too."