Megan rushes away and we watch her fly down the stairs.
“She needs to cool off. She’s not going to listen to either of us when she’s that upset,” Knox states.
I’m about to answer when my grandfather storms out of his office and marches up to us.
“You are not to have anything to do with that girl.” He raises his hand and shakes his head. “Ship her back to the States the moment she returns and cut all ties. Cross me and you can kiss the empire goodbye.”
“You’re seriously telling me I can’t be with her?” I bare my teeth.
“You heard me loud and clear, boy.”
“Then you can keep the empire because I choose her.” I can’t believe those words come out of my mouth, but as I hear them, they feel right.
This is a no-brainer. There was a reason I felt like I had everything when I was with Megan.
Because I did.
Grandfather looks shocked. So shocked he’s not speaking. Good, because we have nothing more to say to each other and I’ve made my choice.
Lorenzo was right about one thing. Telling the truth was a good move.
When I walk away from my grandfather, Knox and Levi fall in step with me.
I look from one to the other, realizing I just threw away what we worked so hard to achieve.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter.
“Nothing to be sorry for, friend,” Knox says. “I chose her a long time ago.”
“Me too,” Levi concedes. “We were just waiting for you to realize you had as well.”
I stare back at him, feeling more grateful than I already was for our friendship.
I almost ask them when they knew I was in love with Megan and when they knew too, but I don’t. I know the answer because I can see it on their faces.
We loved her at hello.
We loved her the moment she first walked into that room with Mimi at the club and looked nervous as hell. We loved her the moment we all felt that spark and knew we couldn’t be without her.
The three of us have always stuck together, but this feels different from any other time. This feels like the time that actually matters.
“We have to find a way to fix this.” I speak with conviction. “That’s all I want now.”
“So do we.”