Chapter 7

"Weird,it's seven-thirty, and you're still at home," Lyric says, breezing into the kitchen. She reaches for a mug from the shelf, the corners of her mouth twitching.

I remain leaning against the counter, arms crossed, trying not to lose my cool so early in the morning. "Good morning to you, too," I respond drily, working to control my irritation.

She saunters toward me and places her palm against my forehead. "Are you feeling okay? Should I call a doctor?"

I narrow my eyes. "What's gotten into you this morning?"

She touches her chest lightly, eyes wide. "Moi? I'm just concerned since you're usually at work by now? Something serious must have happened if you decided to change your routine."

I lift a shoulder, trying to hide my annoyance. "I cleared my schedule for the day," I respond, hoping I don't have to give any explanations.

"Aww, you're the sweetest brother." She rolls her eyes. "But like I said last night, we've got everything under control. You don't need to be involved unless we think it's necessary."

I curse under my breath. "Fuck, I completely forgot about Harper."

Lyric's eyebrow arches. "Oh, so this grand gesture wasn't for us?" She gives me a playful pout.

I shake my head. "No, sorry. I did it for Ameline. She shouldn't be facing her sister alone."

Lyric reaches out, her hand gently squeezing mine. "Always the hero, huh, Gabe?"

I give her a puzzled look. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She sighs, her eyes softening with affection and a hint of sadness. "You're always there to save the day. For everyone, but mostly her. If she's in trouble, you'll be her savior. Her mother was dying, and you set up the house so she would be able to be with her during her last days. Then, it was Ameline's turn. You were there during her chemo and radiation, too."

Lyric's tone doesn't sit right with me. I thought she liked Ameline. She, Dad, and Mom helped us a lot during the treatments. My family really liked her, and maybe they would've accepted her if I had told them who she was to me. Not just my roommate and a girl who was down on her luck.

She was my wife. My reason to exist.

My everything.

But it's too late to explain that now, isn't it?

"Thought you liked her," I say, puzzled by Lyric's reaction.

Lyric sighs. "I do, but then she left and . . ." her voice trails and she shrugs. "You said it was necessary for law school or something. I somehow believe that. Yesterday, I was still okay, thinking I helped when she was your roommate. But after mulling it over, I realized we became friends during those treatments—or at least I thought so. Hence, why I was so happy to see her, but it seems as though she didn't share that feeling. Also, she's been hostile with you since we arrived."

I arch an eyebrow. "Wait, so now we're not supposed to like her then?"

"Yep. I've decided after sleeping on it that she's now officially on my bitches-I-hate list." She grins triumphantly. "A persona non-grata for being terrible to my big brother. In fact, I think you should kick her out of the penthouse now and never speak to her again."

I gawk at her incredulously. "But this is Ameline we're talking about."

Lyric's gaze drifts toward the stairs. "Yes, the woman who has been taking advantage of your kindness since the moment she met you. You paid for her treatments. Who does that?"

Before I can respond, Ameline's voice cuts through the tension. "I paid every cent back." She's climbing down the stairs, holding onto her backpack.

Lyric glares icily. "Yet, here we are again. You're coming to us with your problems, and he's ready to do whatever you need. You'll be taking advantage of that and then you'll disappear."

Ameline lets out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Yet, you were the one that insisted I come with you." Ame turns to look at me. "I take it you never told them, huh?" She scoffs. "Why am I not surprised? This is exactly why I never believed you back then and why I'll never believe anything you say. You're a pathological liar."

"Ame," I start, but don't continue.

What could I say?

I'm sorry things were so screwed up back then. My best friend went MIA, Piper was struggling to adjust. We were afraid she would do something stupid, like fly to the Amazon to search for Archer. Then, my wife nearly died in surgery. Telling my family who Ameline really was to me hadn't seemed important at the time.

Not when I knew my parents wouldn't understand my actions. I wanted them to support Ameline, not judge her.

"I meant everything I said," I state, trying not to sound weak. "Every I love you, every . . . You were wrong."

Ameline shrugs. "You might want to deny it, but the truth is that I was never important enough." She glances at Lyric. "Gabe offered me more than a lifeline back then, and I took what he offered, believing he meant it. After all, I had fallen in love with him. Later, I realized everything was a lie and that's why I left. If I'm here, it is because I didn't want to end up fighting with him in the middle of the airport. Those tended to be pretty nasty at the end of our relationship. I'm leaving, and I promise you'll never see me again."

"Ame, we had an agreement," I remind her.

She lets out an icy laugh, shaking her head."We've made so many, and you broke them all. All. It's my turn to break mine."

"Ameline, stop," I say sharply.

She does, and it gives me a little hope. But when she turns back, she adds, "I'll send the divorce papers later this week. This time you should sign them." She glances at Lyric. "So your family can stop saying that I'm taking advantage of poor Saint Gabriel."

Ameline starts to head for the door, but Lyric quickly runs over and blocks her path. "Oh no you don't," Lyric says, crossing her arms defiantly. "You're not getting out of here that easily after dropping that bomb."

Ameline stops short, glaring at Lyric. "Get out of my way," she demands through gritted teeth.

"I don't think so. You two are going to tell me exactly what happened back then," Lyric shoots back, holding her ground. She widens her stance, making it clear she has no intention of moving.

Ame's hands curl into fists. "Your brother can tell you everything."

"They say that there's always two sides to a story," Lyric states. "I want to hear both now."

"Would love to stay and chat," Ame says. "But I need to go."

"Well, one of you should start talking and fast," Lyric prompts. "I'm not moving from here until you two catch me up on every detail."

Knowing Lyric won't let it go, I start from the day I met Ameline. Lyric didn't know I had taken her to dinner or for ice cream. I obviously simplify everything. The way our friendship flourished—our texts, the times I would visit her at work with the excuse that I wanted to buy some books or was around the area. Then, her mother's call and how she found out about her biological father.

In the meantime, I prepare a tea latte for Ameline and breakfast. Lyric still doesn't move from the door, and Ameline is fuming. Yet, she accepts the drink from me, and I'm able to remove the backpack from her shoulder. The plate with food remains on the island but I hope she'll soon go and fetch it.

Lyric's eyes widen when I tell her about the tumor and how I decided to marry Ameline, and she sits down on the floor against the door when I tell her about our quick wedding and the honeymoon. I'm impressed that she doesn't interrupt me once.

When I get to the part where Ameline died, Ame frowns and looks at me. "I, what?"