Page 102 of Cross the Line
‘If you had just told me,’ he barrels through my apology, ‘I probably would have been surprised, yeah. And definitely not happy. But I would have gotten over it a lot faster than I’m going to get over this.’
Oakley pulls in a deep breath, inspecting us both. Some of the anger that’s got him wound tight ebbs, but it’s replaced by a hurt expression that makes me feel even sicker.
‘Look,’ he says quietly, addressing Dev. ‘I’ll always be protective of Willow. But I also want her to be happy. And you’re supposedly my best friend. I want you to be happy too.’
‘Even if the two of us are happy because we’re together?’ Dev hedges.
I can only hope we’re finally starting to make progress here.
‘Are you serious about her?’ Oakley demands in reply.
There’s no hesitation when Dev answers. ‘I am.’
My brother’s eyes snap back to mine. ‘And youactuallywant to be with him?’
‘Yeah,’ I say, my throat somehow even tighter. ‘I really do.’
Oakley draws in a deep breath and nods sharply. With a quick step back, he holds both palms out. ‘Then fine.Fine. I just have to accept it. It’s my thing to get over.’
I almost collapse in relief. My knees go weak, and I have to slump against Dev to keep myself upright. It doesn’t escape Oakley’s notice, and the set to his jaw hardens.
‘But if you hurt her,’ he warns Dev, ‘I’ll break both of your hands so you never drive again.’
Dev nods solemnly, clearly not doubting the threat. ‘Understood. No plans for that to happen, though.’
‘And you,’ he barks at me, eyes narrowed. ‘If you hurt him—’
‘I won’t,’ I interrupt before he can finish the threat. ‘I promise, I won’t.’
Oakley stares at us both for a few long seconds, leaving my stomach to churn with anxiety. But then he abruptly slaps Dev upside the head and socks me in the shoulder, though not hard enough to hurt me.
‘Man, fuck you both,’ he groans.
And then he pulls us in for a hug.
‘You’re shitty people,’ he mumbles against the top of my head, clutching me to his chest while he has Dev in a headlock. ‘I hope you’re happy together, you absolute losers.’
That shocks a laugh out of me, and the tears I’ve been holding back finally pour over. ‘We are.’
‘Good. Someone better be, because I sure as shit am not.’ With one last squeeze, he shoves us away.
‘I’m not over this,’ he says, pointing at Dev and then me. ‘But since we’re here to celebrate love today, I’ll suck it up. All right?’
‘Got it,’ I squeak. ‘Thank you, Oak.’
With that, he rolls his eyes and stalks off.
It’s a few long seconds before I finally work up the nerve to turn to look at Dev, blinking in shock.
‘Did that . . .’ I trail off. ‘Did that really just happen?’
Dev wets his lips, fighting for his voice. ‘I think it did.’
‘He knows. He knows, and he didn’t kill us.’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘We’re no longer a secret.’
