Secrets

ETHAN

Ethan nodded in unison with his twin.

~Damn straight.~

They were well aware that Liam wasn’t just talking about what would happen when Ezra found out about them, that something so much bigger was looming on the horizon.

He didn’t even like to think about how hurt Madison was going to be. She acted so tough and unaffected, but underneath…

Liam stared them both down with uncharacteristic intensity. “You have to be her rocks, as I’ll need to be Ezra’s.”

“We want nothing more than to make her happy and be by her side through the difficult times ahead,” Ethan began. “And to be honest, for her sake, we probably should have thought things through better.

“Maybe one of us should have stepped aside to make her life easier. But…we just couldn’t.”

Levi took over for him then.

“We know that sounds fucked up, but Liam, nothing has ever felt so good and natural before, like it was always meant to be. You’ve known us since we were kids—have we ever been in love?”

Liam huffed out a small laugh. “No.”

“Exactly. ~No.~ But as crazy as it sounds, we’ve already fallen hard for Madison. She just makes our life better. And I can promise you it wasn’t like that when she was younger—we’re not pervs!”

Liam snorted and shook his head. “God, Levi! I know that.”

“When she came back, she wasn’t the same Madison. She came back as a woman. It made our hearts ache. I can’t promise everything will always be fine. I know myself, and I know Ethan. There will be times where we’ll probably fight.

“But we will never, ever neglect your sister. We couldn’t do that.”

Ethan shook his head slightly and suppressed a grin. “The way she makes us feel, Liam… Her happiness is contagious, and the way her innocence can so easily disappear is just—”

“No!” Liam held up his hand. “Rule number one: I never, ever want to know anything sexual related to this relationship.” He signaled to Adrian to bring another round.

Levi nodded. “What Ethan ~meant~ is that your sister is special and makes ~us~ feel special, and we’ll do our best to become better men for her.”

Ethan sighed. Levi had always been better at talking about feelings than he was.

“Good.” Liam nodded. “Because as I said, I can’t be there for you three once the shit hits the fan with Ezra. I have to be there for him. Okay, now that we are all clear on this…”

Liam smiled as Adrian brought over a second round of drinks. “Cheers,” he offered as the twins grabbed their drinks too.

“There is something else I need from you.” Liam’s face became unusually serious. “The evil duo called and left a message. They want to come visit.”

“What? Already?” Ethan and Levi answered in unison.

Liam nodded. “I’m going to put them off as long as I can. But Ethan?

“They’re planning on bringing Marta with them.”

Ethan groaned. “God, ~why~?”

“I don’t know. But I need you to be there when Ezra and I tell Madison, and I need you to have those papers ready stating that everything we own is ours and ~only~ ours. That they had nothing to do with it.”

“Of course. We’ll get Sara on it right away,” Levi said. “They’ll be ready. And what about the other thing you’ve been working with her on? Last we checked, you were still waiting to hear from the PI.”

“Yup. Still a few loose ends to tie up.”

Something about Liam’s manner struck Ethan as odd. “Are you still happy with the job she’s doing? Or do you need us to step in?”

“I’m good.”

Levi gave Ethan a look, and Ethan nodded.

“Good,” Levi said. “Because we also need something from you.”

MADISON

“Okay now, you guys form a line, and on your way out take one of those little bags. You should find a present to wear when you come to class next week.”

Madison sighed in relief when the kids did as they were told.

She was covered in sweat and she was tired. Liam ended up needing four classes covered, not the two she’d agreed to.

And she’d been tense all day waiting to hear about his lunch with the twins.

It was after 5 p.m., and she still hadn’t heard a word from any of them.

“Miss Davis?” A little voice distracted her from her thoughts.

Jamie, Sam’s brother, was looking up at her with big, bright eyes.

“Yes, Jamie? You can call me Maddi, you know.” She ran her hand over his hair, messing it up, and the little boy smiled shyly.

“Sam’s not here yet, Miss—Maddi. Can I wait here with you?”

“Of course you can. I’m sure she’ll be here shortly.” She had to suppress another sigh, because she knew ~exactly~ where his sister was.

She’d disappeared into the office with Ezra as soon as she’d dropped Jamie off.

“Shall we try to go and look for her? Or maybe we can get a smoothie at the snack bar.”

“Um…I don’t know. Sam would be mad.”

“No, she won’t,” she said warmly, “because you’re with me. C’mon, let’s go.” She smiled and took his small hand in hers.

Once at the gym’s snack bar, she got Jamie settled at a table.

“Hey, Brian, can I have a bottle of water and a…” She glanced at Jamie. “A kid-sized strawberry mango smoothie?” The energetic nod the little boy gave her made her laugh.

While Brian put the ingredients in the blender, Madison reached for her phone to call Ezra’s office.

Ezra answered quickly enough, but he was suspiciously short of breath.

Madison shook her head but refrained from cursing him out in front of the kid. “Just as I thought.”

“Madison?” The shock in his voice made her laugh in spite of herself.

“Listen, tell Sam that me and Jamie are at the snack bar, will you?” She hung up without waiting to hear what he had to say.

Brian brought Jamie his smoothie, and he started happily sucking on the straw.

She sat next to him and decided to send a quick message to the twins.

Madison

How’d it go with Liam?

As soon as she pressed send, Sam and Ezra came up behind her and startled her.

“You’re late!” Jamie chirped before she had a chance to say anything.

“Sorry, Jamie,” Sam said, ruffling his hair.

“It’s okay. I was with Maddi. I like her better.”

“Gee, thanks,” Sam said, pretending to be offended. “Come on now, say bye to Maddi. You can finish your drink on the way home.”

“Okay. Bye, Maddi, and thank you, Maddi!” Jamie gave her a cold, fruity kiss on her cheek and took Sam’s hand.

“I’ll call you later, Mad! You’re a lifesaver.” Sam winked at her before kissing Ezra. “I’ll see you later too.”

“You owe me!” Madison called after her, then turned to Ezra. “~You~ owe me too.”

“I know.” Sitting down across the table from Madison, Ezra locked eyes with her.

Madison spoke first. “I’m sorry for shutting you out of my life, and for making you feel like I was avoiding you.”

“It’s okay,” Ezra replied quickly. “I wouldn’t have wanted to talk to me either if I were you. I know you’re not a kid anymore, Maddi, and I can’t expect you to be locked in the house. It’s just…”

He let out a gusty exhale before continuing.

“I know this isn’t fair of me, seeing as how I’m dating your best friend, but I’m just not ready for the idea of you being with someone. And Jesus, when I saw that hickey, I just wanted to kill the guy. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I understand…I guess.”

“I just want you to be able to talk to me like before. But I feel like I’m driving you away. I can tell you’re keeping things from me, and it hurts.”

“Ezra…”

“Who is it? Why can’t you tell me? Liam seems to know. Why not me?” He shook his head as his eyes darkened. “~Am~ I pushing you away?”

~I mean, sort of? But…~

“I…no…of course not.” She frowned and bit her lip. The sadness in her brother’s eyes made her sad too.

“Why can’t you talk to me anymore?” he whispered hoarsely. But when she didn’t answer, he sighed and stood up, then leaned over to kiss the top of her head. “Love you, sis.”

He started to walk away, and Madison’s heart sank into her stomach.

His words had penetrated her heart like a thousand invisible needles. Keeping secrets from Ezra hurt more than she could have imagined.

She picked her phone up and, blinking away tears, sent another quick message to the twins.

Madison

I can’t keep the secret anymore

Madison

I’m sorry.