I grin at Kingsley. “Thanks.”
“Have you spoken to your father lately?” Falcon asks Layla.
“Yes, he’s in Egypt now.”
As Layla tells everyone about her father’s latest travels, my eyes go to Mason and Falcon.
They’re my brothers, and God knows, I love them so much, but…
What will happen to our bond if I leave? Will we slowly drift apart?
Years from now, when I’m living the life I’ve always dreamt of, will it be at the cost of our brotherhood?
We always spoke about how Mason would run CRC with Julian, and Falcon would create a new company.
Both their lives are playing out exactly like we planned.
And me? I would marry Park Lee-ann.
We joked about how I could run a café somewhere in Europe, but it was only an idea we were throwing around.
I never thought the day would come where I would have to choose between who I love most and what I want most.
Falcon laughs at something Layla said, but then he glances at me, and when our eyes lock, his smile slowly fades from his face.
Our food comes, and the conversation stays light while we eat, but I catch Falcon glancing at me every couple of minutes.
When we’re done eating, Jeremy clears the plates away and brings us each a coffee.
I listen to my friends talk, and when we’re the last students in the restaurant, Layla gets up but then stops when Falcon remains sitting. “Aren’t we going to the dorm now? I’m sure they want to close.”
Falcon shakes his head. “You and Kingsley can go ahead. I need to talk to Mason and Lake.”
Once the girls have left, and we’re still sitting at the table, Jeremy comes to ask, “Is there anything else I can get you.”
Falcon leans back in his chair, saying, “No, we’re going. Thanks, Jeremy.”
“Have a good evening, sir.” I watch Jeremy rush off toward the kitchen.
“We are?” Mason asks. “Why didn’t we leave with the girls then?”
“We’re going for a walk,” Falcon answers. He rises to his feet and walks to the entrance without another word.
“I guess we’re going for a walk,” Mason mumbles as he gets up.
“This walk might just kill me,” I whisper as I follow them out of the restaurant and down the path which runs through the woods and up to the cliff.
A couple of minutes later, Mason grumbles from behind me, “Not that I’m complaining, but whose brilliant idea was it to hike through the woods at eleven fucking pm?”
“Think of it as a midnight stroll,” Falcon chuckles from the front.
“Midnight stroll my ass.” For a while, I only hear our breaths blending with the night sounds, then Mason asks, “How far is this fucking midnight stroll going to be?”
“Shut up and enjoy the damn night air,” Falcon growls.
I smile as I walk in the middle, but then a thought crosses my mind, and it makes overwhelming sadness fill my heart.
When we graduate Mason will start working, and he’ll probably get a place of his own.
There’s a good chance Falcon will propose to Layla, and they’ll build their own home.
And I won’t see Falcon in of front me or feel Mason behind me anymore.Chapter 11LakeWhen we reach the cliff, we stand and stare out over the lights scattered below.
“Remember the pact we made when we were turned eighteen?” Falcon asks, his voice nothing more than a murmur.
“Fuck work,” Mason chuckles.
“Fuck family,” Falcon says the second line.
I close my eyes and struggle to hold back the tears, as I whisper, “Fuck everything but us.”
Mason kicks a rock off the cliff. “In three months I’ll start working.”
“After graduating, I’m going to ask Layla to marry me.” I smile through the sadness because I know with all my heart they will be happy together.
“Yeah?” Mason asks.
“Yeah,” Falcon lets out a sigh. “It would be great if we could have our engagement party on the same day Clare gets locked behind bars.”
“We’re going to make it happen,” Mason says with determination lacing his words. “I’m meeting with the DA on Monday. We’ll find a way to have them both locked up.”
Silence falls between us for a little while and Falcon steps closer to me, placing his arm around my shoulders.
I glance up at the stars but they all blur and when Mason also moves closer, and he also wraps his arm around my shoulders, it feels like I’m being torn in two.
Sucking in a trembling breath, the first tear rolls down my cheek.
“It doesn’t mean the end of us,” Falcon finally breaks the silence.
“There will never be an end to the bond we share,” Mason confirms. “No matter where you are.”
“I’d like to believe that,” I whisper.
“What happened in the kitchen?” Falcon asks.
“I got a glimpse of the life I always dreamt off,” I admit.
“Then you should grab hold of it with both your hands and never let go,” Falcom murmurs. “Even if it leads you down a different path from ours.”