I almost jumped out of my skin when he shouted. I quickly looked in his direction and backed up against the kitchen counter when I saw how tense his features were. I had never seen him look so infuriated before.
“I’m here,” he bit out. “Layton is here. Mum, Dad and Nanny are here for you. Kale is here for you too, not that you’ve ever given a damn about him.”
It was my turn to shout then.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I bellowed, rage flowing through my veins. “I left for Kale! I left so he could be with Drew and have their baby. I didn’t want to remind him of the bullshit I put him through every time he saw me, and I didn’t want to put a strain on their relationship, because I knew Drew didn’t like me around him. I left so he could finally be happy, so don’t you fucking dare tell me I never cared for him. I loved him with everything in me, you arsehole. I left my entire life for him!”
What I didn’t say was that I also left because I couldn’t watch Kale’s life with another play out before my eyes, but Lochlan didn’t need to know that.
He stared back at me with wide eyes.
I shook my head. “I love you, Lochlan, but you make me hate you sometimes.”
He swallowed as tension left his features. “I don’t mean to be so hard on you, but you didn’t just leave Kale or Uncle Harry when you went away. You left me too.”
My heart hurt for him.
“And I’m sorry for hurting you, but I didn’t know what else to do at the time. I couldn’t be here. It was too hard.”
Lochlan blinked. “And now?”
I frowned. “And now I don’t know how I feel. I’m a bundle of emotions with everything going on. I just need to get a handle on myself and think for a while.”
“I’ve been in a relationship with Ally for the last four years.”
Out of all the things I expected my brother to say, that was not it.
“What?” I gaped. “Four years?”
He nodded. “We’re engaged.”
Thank God I had the counter to lean against because I was sure I would have fallen over without it.
“It’s not just shagging, as you so nicely put it. I love her, and she loves me.”
I blinked dumbly.
“We’re getting married next June,” Lochlan continued, “and I – we – want you at the wedding.”
I looked away from my brother then, but he shot forward and got in my face.
“Don’t do that! Don’t turn away from me. If you’re not going to come to my wedding, then say it to my face.”
I was shocked to the core when I saw unshed tears, real tears, sitting in my brother’s eyes.
“I just forgave her for everything she did to me when we were younger, but I don’t exactly like her, Lochlan. How can I stand in a church and pretend like I do?” I asked, my eyes searching his.
Lochlan’s gaze lost some of its intensity, and his lip quirked. “You can sit down the back if it helps?”
I was surprised when a laugh burst out of me. Lochlan laughed too. Then, without warning, he put his arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug.
“You’re still the biggest pain in my arse, little sister, but you’ve always been my number-one girl; you know that, right? I love you to death, and I’ve missed you with all of my heart.”
Tears fell from my eyes as I hugged him back.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry for leaving you.”
Lochlan squeezed me tightly.
“Congratulations,” I said then as I pulled back from our hug. “I mean it. I’m happy for you.”
Lochlan winked at me. “Thanks, kid.”
I teasingly grinned. “I’ll have to share Lochlan’s number-one-girl title it seems.”
He smiled wide. “Yeah, it appears to be that way.”
I got serious then and said, “If she ever hurts you, you tell me, and I’ll hunt her down and kick her arse.”
Lochlan almost doubled over from laughing, and it caused my lip to twitch.
“I’m glad you find it amusing, but I’m dead serious.”
He laughed harder.
I nudged him. “I’m going to kick your arse if you don’t bring it down a notch.”
Lochlan tried to compose himself.
“I’m sorry, Rambo,” he snickered. “I’ll keep your offer in mind. I’ll just have to pray Ally never hurts me.”
I rolled my eyes at him, smiling, before going in for another hug.
“So you’ll be here for my wedding?” he asked.
I nodded against his chest. “Do you think Mum or Nanny would let me miss it?”
He pulled back from me, thought on it, then smirked.