Ripley pulls back and his eyes shoot to me. “Yeah?”

I beam. “Yeah, honey. You’re stuck with me for certain now.”

He smiles, and it’s the biggest, most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

Things will be just fine.

~*~*~*~

“I’m going to vomit,” I cry, rubbing my stomach.

Blade reaches over and squeezes my hand. “It’ll be fine. Chances are they’ll all react how Nancy did.”

“And if they don’t? God, what if Jack hits you or disowns you?”

Blade snorts. “After what happened with Ripley, I highly doubt it.”

“Blade,” I whisper. “I don’t want this to go bad.”

He gives me a quick glance. “Honey, it won’t.”

I nod and stare out the window. We’re driving to Mom’s house for a family dinner where we’ll tell them all about our relationship. This unnerves me, but I know I have to do it. It is time for Blade and I to be able to have a real go at this relationship.

“Hey,” Blade says, squeezing my hand. “Breathe for me.”

I take a few breaths, not realizing I’d actually stopped.

I close my eyes until we arrive. Blade and I walk up to the front door and let ourselves in. Everyone is here, and they’re all sitting around the table chatting. They turn when we come in and Mom’s eyes flicker over the both of us before she smiles. I return her smile, but it’s wobbly because I feel so damn sick.

“How’s it going, Lee?” I say instead, looking to Ripley.

It’s been a week since the accident and he was released only today. He’s doing really well and he looks . . . well . . . battered. He has a smile though, and that makes me happier than anything.

“Sit down. I’m about to serve dinner,” Mom says, standing and rushing over, kissing both Blade and my cheeks before hurrying into the kitchen.

I hug Jack and then sit down, flashing a smile at Brody. He gives me one, but it’s half-hearted at the best. I make a mental note to ask him why that is, when I don’t feel like curling up and dying from nerves.

“How’s school?” Jack asks me, sliding Blade a beer.

“It’s great. Coming along well.”

He smiles, showing me dimples. He might not be giving me those soon. “That’s good, honey.”

We chat casually as Mom serves dinner. She’s made a pot roast with mashed potatoes, green beans and gravy. While we’re all eating, I look up at her and she nods. It’s now or never. Suddenly my food turns in my belly and I don’t know if I can do it. Blade must see this, because it’s him that speaks up.

“Dad, guys, I have something to tell you all.”

“Shit, Blade,” Jack says. “You didn’t knock someone up, did you?”

Blade scowls at him and I rub my stomach. Brody is staring at me, and I can feel his eyes burning holes into the side of my head. He knows. He knows what is about to go down.

“Jesus, Dad,” Blade grunts. “No.”

“Thank god. You scared me. What is it then, boy?”

Blade’s eyes flash to me for a split second and then he says, “I’ve met someone.”

Jack’s eyes widen. “You don’t say. Good for you!”

“She isn’t just anyone. She’s special and . . . I love her.”

Now Jack’s eyes are really wide. “Shit son, I didn’t even realize there was someone, let alone that it was so serious. Who is she? When can we meet her?”

Blade swallows. “You’ve met her. In fact you know her well.”

“It’s not Melanie, is it?” Jack asks, frowning.

Blade shakes his head. “Nah, Dad. It’s . . . Aria.”

Silence. Long, horrible silence.

Jack looks to me with wide eyes, then he turns to Blade. “Is this a joke?”

“Does it look like I’m joking?”

Jack’s face goes tight. “She’s your . . . step-sister.”

“Yeah,” Blade growls. “And there ain’t no relation, so tell me what the real problem is?”

“The problem is that it’s fuckin’ wrong.”

This doesn’t come from Jack; it comes from Brody. We all turn to stare at him and I narrow my eyes in confusion. I didn’t think Brody would be the one to protest. Why would he? He doesn’t seem to care what we do.

“Brody,” I say softly. “How exactly is it wrong?”

“Seriously?” he scoffs. “Our parents are married. Have you even thought about what would happen if you and Blade decide that this fuck fest you have going on doesn’t work? How the hell do you think we can all sit in the same room for the rest of our lives? How do you think you can handle it if he marries another woman, or you marry another man? You two are thinking below the belt. Don’t insult me by calling it love. I’m done here.”

He skids his chair back and storms out. My bottom lip trembles, because out of all of them, I thought he’d understand. Ripley reaches over and takes my hand, squeezing it, but I don’t feel it. Brody and I have a bond; it hurts me that he thinks so low of me. Does he really think I’d just sleep around casually and announce it to the family?

“Okay,” Jack says. “You two need to start from the beginning, yeah?”

So we tell Jack everything, from start to finish. When we’re done, his eyes are scanning over both of us, then he mumbles, “Jesus, this started before us? What’s the luck of that?”