Her face falls and I can see the hurt in her hazel eyes. “I don’t hate you. I could never hate either of you, but that doesn’t mean I’m not totally shocked, a little freaked out, and more than a little traumatized from walking in on my older brother fucking the life out of my baby sister.”

“Again, knock next time,” James grunts as he pours a shot and downs it. “Look Monica, I’m not going to apologize for this. I’m sorry you had to find out the way you did. Trust me, you walking in on us isn’t exactly high on my favorite times either. But I’m not going to apologize for giving into my heart and my head and—”

“Your dick?” Monica interrupts.

“Yeah, Monica, we’re really in this situation because I wanted to get my dick wet.” He stares at her. “I am in love with her.”

“I just don’t understand how this happened! You were thirteen when Mom and Dad brought her home. You watched her grow up. You loved her like an older brother. Her protector. A man always in her corner. What happens when this ends? How do you go back to being siblings after being lovers? This is why family members shouldn’t engage in this type of relationship. Aside from the fact that it’s illegal and immoral and just…wrong! It makes things messy as fuck when things end. You’ll never be the same and it’s going to change everything! It’s not just about you, it’s going to change the dynamic of our entire family.”

Her words ring in my ears and I find myself getting dizzy at the idea that James and I wouldn’t be the same after this. “It’s not.” His voice cuts through my thoughts and my eyes shoot to his. “It’s not going to end. I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t think Gabrielle was my endgame. My soulmate. She’s everything to me.”

I slide my hand into his and lace our fingers, a movement that drags Monica’s eyes to where our hands are joined. “Guys—”

“Monica, I know this is a lot to take in, but…it’s just the way it is. You can kick and scream and warn us about all the issues that will arise from this but I’m not giving him up. I’ll take whatever problems come up in stride. James is…” I bite my bottom lip. “I’m in love with him and I know people will think it’s sick and wrong and dirty, but I don’t care. Because they don’t feel what I feel. They don’t know how physically painful it’s been being in love with someone I thought I could never have. I can’t spend my life living for other people. I want to live for me.”