42. Lilian
Chapter 4 2
Lilian
“Three chocolate milkshakes. Three cheeseburgers with fries, medium-rare, one with extra cheese, and one without tomatoes.” Landon holds up three fingers.
The waitress scribbles down our order and disappears behind the counter.
I fidget with my napkin, avoiding eye contact. To be honest, I miss Sebastian. Everything is easier with him. And I would like to take a shower, ridding me of Jason’s disgusting touch.
Levi clears his throat. “Lil, about what happened back there…”
“Please.” My voice is strained. “We’ve talked enough in the car. I just want to forget it.”
“Okay.”
“It’s been too long since we’ve done this,” Landon says.
“We got older,” I say.
Back then, Uncle Marc used to take us to the diner for our birthdays. It wasn’t fancy, just a regular diner, but that’s what made it so special, and the owner always made chocolate shakes with marshmallows for us.
“So, how’s everything back home?” I ask .
“Work’s been a bitch lately.” Levi rubs his eyes. “This latest case has me pulling all-nighters. The Chief’s breathing down my neck, wanting results yesterday.”
I nod. Being a homicide detective is no joke.
“Anne’s redecorating our whole apartment,” Landon says. “And Uncle Marc’s been up my ass about the company.”
A knot forms in my stomach. “Is he here, too?”
Landon scoffs. “Marc wouldn’t accept an invitation from the Barrons if his life depended on it. Not even from Sloan.”
The waitress returns with our shakes. I take a long sip, the rich chocolate a welcome distraction. I missed this.
Landon’s eyes set on me. “We’re here because we haven’t seen you in ages. And well, Anne might have had something to do with it.”
I wince. “I’m sorry I haven’t visited more.”
“That’s not what we’re upset about,” Levi says softly. “Why didn’t you tell us about Sebastian?”
I fiddle with my straw, avoiding their gazes. “It’s been complicated.”
“Do you still love him?” Landon’s question hangs in the air.
I take another sip, buying time. “I-I think I never stopped.” I pause. “I really tried with Jason. I wanted to make Marc happy and move on. But Sebastian…”
“We never liked Jason much anyway.” Levi shrugs. “At least not how he turned out.”
Landon’s expression darkens. “It’s no secret that we aren’t thrilled about you and Sebastian, especially considering how things ended last time.”
“I know,” I say. “But he makes me happy. Can’t you forget that stupid rivalry?”
My brothers exchange a look .
“Ask again when you’re marrying the guy,” Landon says.
My jaw nearly drops. Did he just say what I think he did? “So, you’re okay with us being a couple?”
“We’ll tolerate it,” Landon grumbles.
“Did Anne force you to say this?” I ask.
Levi chuckles, and Landon shoots him a glare. “Maybe.”
“Thank you,” I say. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Don’t let him fuck it up this time,” Levi says.
I can’t help but laugh. “I’ll make sure he behaves himself.”
“Lan.” Levi elbows Landon, who looks at him, annoyed. “Give it to her.”
“You’re too nice to him.” Landon reaches into his jacket pocket, hesitating, before pulling out a small USB drive. He slides it across the table. “It’s a peace offering. For Sebastian.”
I pick it up. “What is it?”
“Do you trust us?” Levi asks.
I nod.
“It’s an offer to work together,” Landon says. “If he’s willing to let the past go, we will too. Even if Marc disagrees.”
“He’ll come around eventually,” Levi says.
They’re serious. I tuck the drive into my purse. Maybe this is the olive branch we needed to put the past behind us. But what if Sebastian doesn’t want to let it go? What if this opens up old wounds? “Thanks. This means a lot.”
The waitress arrives with our burgers, momentarily halting the conversation.
Levi picks up his. “Dig in, guys.”
I take a big bite of my burger and notice Landon and Levi watching me. “What? ”
“You really okay?” Levi asks.
I avert my eyes. “Yeah, why?”
“We just want you to be happy. Even if it’s with him,” Landon says.
“Why now?” I ask. “Why are you guys really here?”
They exchange a loaded glance.
“Come on, guys,” I say. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Levi opens his mouth, then closes it again, looking to Landon for guidance.
He sighs heavily. “It’s complicated. There are things, family things, that we’re not sure you’re ready to hear.”
“I’m not a child anymore.” Frustration creeps into my voice. “Whatever it is, I can handle it.”
Levi sets down his burger. “Remember how Lan said Marc wouldn’t accept the invitation?”
I nod.
“Well,” Landon says, “Sloan and Marc have history.”
My brow furrows. “And?”
“Sloan. She was like a mother to us growing up. She helped out a lot when Marc adopted us,” Levi says.
The revelation hits me like a truck. “I had no idea. Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“You were too young to remember,” Landon says. “And things got complicated between them.”
There’s more to it, but I don’t want to push it. I’ve never heard so much pain in Landon’s voice. So, Sloan, Sebastian’s mother, was like a mom to my brothers? She helped raise me?
“The only reason we’re here.” Levi nods towards my purse. “And that USB stick exists, is because of her. ”
I massage my temples, overwhelmed. Why keep all this from me? What else don’t I know about my life? Fan-fucking-tastic.
I peer at the USB drive sitting in my purse. One thing at a time, Lil.
After we finish eating, Levi takes care of the bill, and we head outside.
“Hop in.” Landon juggles with his keys. “We’ll bring you home.”
“Thanks. Let me get the address.”
“No need. I know where you live.”
“You do?”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
“Well, because I moved into Sebastian’s—”
Landon stops in his tracks. “You’re staying at his place?”
“Yes.” My eyes dart between his.
Landon’s eyes narrow at Levi, who opens the door on the passenger side. “I call dibs.”
“You’ll call nothing when I’m done with you, little brother,” Landon mutters.
“What’s wrong?”
Landon doesn’t answer me and motions me to get in the car before he slips into the driver’s seat.
“Do you need the address?” I ask.
“No need, sis. I already plugged it into the navigation,” Levi hums.
Landon still has his eyes narrowed at him. “So, you even have the address. Didn’t care to share that with me?”
“Details.” Levi hums. “You should drive, or we’ll be stuck in traffic.”