“Hey.” He turned from the window as she came in.
“Not to add insult to injury but Lexi asked that we do a press release saying the engagement is off. She figured it would be the easiest way to spread the word.”
Will stood abruptly, knocking his chair back. “She’s talking to you? She called?”
Kyra shook her head, and he saw the sadness in his sister’s gaze. “No. She texted. I asked if I could see her, if we could talk. She told me how much she likes me, how wonderful all of us are. Said to take care of you.”
Slapping his palms on his desk, he gritted out, “Fuck that. I don’t need anyone to take care of me. She’s so goddamn worried abouteveryone else she’s willing to walk away from a chance at being truly happy.”
“I’m sorry.” Kyra’s voice cracked and Will’s head snapped up.
“What are you sorry about?”
“I wanted it to be real for you because I see the way you two look at each other and I pushed. I’m just like Mom.”
Will let out a harsh laugh, coming around the desk to pull his sister into a hug. “Maybe in thewanting me happypart. None of this is your fault.”
“I picked the ring.”
He laughed again. “Is that thing real?”
Kyra leaned back, insult laced in her tone, expression, and body language. It almost made him laugh. “Of course it is. Why would I let you give her a fake ring?”
His brows drew together. “Because it was never supposed to be real?”
Kyra patted his chest. “But that’s not true, is it? I think it’s been real for you since the minute you saw her. Your mistake was pretending it wasn’t.”
“When did you get so smart?”
Kyra squeezed and let him go. “I had good teachers. You should talk to Mom and Dad.”
He nodded. “I know.”
When she left, he pushed down the ache that had taken up residence in his chest, like a rock sitting in a hollow cave, and went to set a few things straight. Things had become less tense since the family meeting they’d had. Like they were all walking on thin tiles and no one wanted to be the reason for the break. Will had a feeling from the way both of his parents talked to him the last couple of days that his sisters had filled them in on Lexi leaving.
His mother was on the phone when he went into his father’s office.His dad was sitting, one ankle crossed over his knee, reading a report on the couch.
“William,” his dad said.
His mother hung up the phone. “Hi, honey. How are you? We haven’t seen much of you this week.”
“Lexi and I were never engaged.” Shit. He hadn’t meant to blurt it out.
His mother’s face went pale. His father stood up. “I knew it. That girl doesn’t suit you at all. I knew something was off. What does she want? Is she blackmailing you for something?”
His mother stood up, coming around the large walnut desk that was once his grandfather’s.
“No. She’s not blackmailing me and she suits me better than anyone I’ve ever met.”
While they stood there, staring at him, he told them everything: how they’d met, how they’d gotten closer, and the misunderstanding about the engagement.
“I don’t understand,” his mother said. “You said you loved her. Why would you let me believe that?”
He did love her. But that wasn’t the reason he’d been okay with a fake engagement. Will ran a hand through his hair. “Because you’re on my case constantly about being with the right woman, about getting married, tradition, and legacy.”
“What the hell is wrong with that?” his father said, pacing as he always did when he was irritated.
“What’s wrong with that is it’s one thing to guide me in business and groom me to take over. But my personal life ismine. I don’t want or need your help. I’d love your approval but I don’tneedit. Lexi and I weren’t really engaged but I fell in love with her for real and I plan on winning her back.”
