Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
His eyes warmed, and I knew this time he believed me. Raising on my toes so I could reach, I clasped my hands to the sides of his face, pulling him down for a kiss. His lips, warm and soft, pressed to mine, his arms winding around to draw me close. I leaned back, and I told him the truest thing I knew.
“There was a prize at the end of your dad’s codes,” I said. “At least there was for me because I got you, and you’re everything I want. I love you, Forrest. I loved you a year ago. I wouldn’t have been so angry if I hadn’t loved you.”
“Sterling, I’m sorry—”
“Shhh,” I said, putting a finger over his lips. “You’re interrupting my moment. I know you’re sorry. I know you won’t lie to me again.” I thought of my secret coding classes and added, “I won’t lie to you either because I love you and I trust you, and I don’t want to screw this up again.”
“I love you too,” he said, and this time I didn’t break our kiss. Not until we were both breathless.
“Show me your cliffs,” I said, feeling settled for the first time in forever. “And then we’ll go back and really celebrate with your mom and Jerry.” I took a step, but Forrest didn’t follow.
He slid his hand into his pocket. “Sterling,” he said. Then he shook his head. “I’ll show you the cliffs.”
“Okay,” I agreed, wondering what he’d been about to say.
He pulled his hand from his pocket and twined his fingers with mine. “It’s not far,” he said.
We walked side by side down the neatly trimmed path. The woods ended abruptly, opening into a narrow field of waving grasses. Beyond the grass, the land just disappeared, a jagged edge at the end of the world, nothing but deep, navy ocean beyond.
“Oh my God,” I said. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.” The drama of it took my breath away. On my side of the continent, the ocean met the land with grace, one sliding into the other. I looked to my left and saw the ocean bashing itself against the stone of the cliffs, exploding in spray. It was feral, powerful, and absolutely gorgeous.
I took a step closer, then pulled back. We were fifty feet away and plenty close enough. The land at the edge of the cliffs looked unstable, with overhangs of grass and dirt. From what I could tell, the base of the cliffs was lined with sharp rocks. It would take one misstep, and you’d never be seen again.
Forrest turned to me, his hand in his pocket again, the other raised to cup my chin, his eyes serious. “Sterling—”
“I hate to interrupt your romantic moment,” came a voice from behind us. “But no— I really don’t.”
I looked over to see my brother Brax standing at the edge of the woods twenty feet away, a gun in his hand.
“What the fuck? Brax?” I said stupidly, my brain knocked out of gear.
“What are you doing in Oregon?” I heard Forrest say.
“I’m here for the money, you moron.” Brax shook his head, scorn dripping from his words. “Here’s the deal,” he said and looked straight at me. “I know you found it. I saw you go rushing to the house with that book in your hand and then come out here looking all dopey and happy. I’ll make you a deal. Give me the account number, and I’ll go away. I know you won’t miss me, and we both know Dad didn’t leave us a goddamn thing. If those trust funds aren’t empty now, Griffen will have cleaned them out by the time the will terms are up.”
“No, he won’t,” I said without thinking. “Why would you say that?”
“Oh please, you’re so trusting,” Brax smirked at me. “I was going to say you’re an idiot, but you’re not, are you? You were smart enough to solve the codes. You just weren’t smart enough to realize I was watching you the whole time.”
“It was you who sent us to that root cellar,” I said. Despite the circumstances, triumph swirled through me, giving me the guts to face him down over the barrel of that gun. “I knew it was you.”
“Duh,” Brax said with an exaggerated roll of his eyes. “Everyone else is so lovey-dovey these days. Family above everything. Fuck that.” He tossed his golden hair off his forehead. “That’s not how we were raised. Everyone’s out for themselves. You, me, Griffen, Ford. All of us. Just like Dad was.”
Was that really what he thought? I’d hated Brax for as long as I could remember. And still, that was just sad.
“No,” I said, “we’re not all out for ourselves. We’re a family. You were there when I accused you of sending us to the root cellar, when we found my toys in your closet. Griffen stuck up for you because he loves you. Because you’re his brother.”