“Come on—”
Aly jerked at his words and spun to face him.
“Let’s go out to the sunporch.” He tilted his chin.
“I don’t—” Andy started.
But Will cut him off. “Now, dude.”
He led the way, and both Gomez siblings trailed behind. Once they were settled in the small room, he turned. “I’ll give you two a minute.”
“No—” Andy shouted, looking up at him and pleading with his eyes. When Will moved for the door, Andy grabbed his arm, refusing to let go. “We’re a package deal, remember?”
Will smiled, giving him the reassurance he needed, then pointed at him. “In absolutely everything in life,” then he paused and turned to look at the woman he so desperately wished he could keep, “except Aly.”
Aly could be in Andy’s life in any way she wanted. But not through him.
“But—”
“No. She will always have a place inyourlife. She can visityou; she can callyou; she can be there foryou. She’s your family,” Will assured him, then he regarded Aly for a long moment. She hadn’t said a single word. She’d only stood there awkwardly, her arms wrapped around her midsection. “No matter what happened with us.”
“Ham and cheese?” Andy asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Ham and cheese,” Will agreed with a smile.
And Andy hugged him.
“I’ll give you two a few minutes,” he said, and then he left the room without looking back.
* * *
Aly watchedWill cross the threshold, leaving her to deal with Andy alone. She didn’t know where to start with her brother. She’d hoped for the package. For both of them. But Will hadn’t even looked at her as he strode out of the room, and the coolness in which he’d spoken to her had leeched into her, making her shiver.
It was too late for them. But Will wasn’t giving up on Andy. She could be thankful for that, because as much as she loved her brother, she wanted her two favorite guys together. The package deal. Too bad she wasn’t sure she could have any part of it.
“I hate you,” Andy said, glaring at her.
“I hate me too,” she agreed and then sighed. “But I love you.”
Andy snorted.
She sat on the sofa near him and studied her hands, unable to look at him while she cracked her heart open in hopes of explaining herself to her brother. “I know it doesn’t seem like it. I’m pretty much the world’s worst”—she couldn’t even say parent, because she had never acted like it—“person.”
Andy frowned. “I wouldn’t say worst. I mean, you’ve never killed anyone.”
She laughed, although she didn’t feel the joy that typically accompanied such an action. He’d compared her to a murderer. And she’d come out only slightly ahead.
Andy frowned. “Why are you here?”
“I miss you guys,” she admitted, scanning the room for something to focus on. She stopped her search at the fireplace, where the heated wood popped and sizzled in a comforting rhythm.
“You missedus?” Andy asked. “Like, both of us?”
“Yeah.” She shrugged but turned back to him.
“Like me too?” Andy looked up at her with so much vulnerability in his brown eyes that her own welled with tears.
“I always miss you when we’re not together.” She reached out, surprised when Andy let her take his hand. “I know I’m not good at any of the parenting stuff, but I love you, and I miss you. I love seeing you and spending time with you. Always.”