Sweetest Secret

Emily

Being the sweet, popular girl next door with a family name everyone knows isn't always what it's cracked up to be. In fact, I'm starting to crumble under the pressure of the facade. I tried to be perfect. I tried to be what I thought everyone wanted, but in the end it only left me lonely. They think they know me. They think they see me, but no one really does. The one person I thought did—my brothers best friend—walked away in the end. I shouldn't be surprised. I always seem to be left alone.

Chase

She thinks I don't see her, when all I've ever seen is her. Her forced smiles and laughter are slowly driving me insane as I bide my time. I want to make them real. I want my girl back. I don’t care what bridges I have to burn to have her. I’ll spend my life proving to her I’m never going anywhere. That I’m the one person she can always count on. In the end, I’ll win, and she will be mine.

Dedication

“Friendships between women, as any woman will tell you, are built of a thousand small kindnesses... swapped back and forth and over again,"

Michelle Obama, Becoming

1

Chase

This is not good. I’m barely hanging on to my control by a thin thread, and now I’m sitting next to the very person that would try to bust my face in if he knew about this thread I’m hanging by to begin with. It’s been this way for a while, but I’m going to snap. I’m so close yet so far from getting what I’ve been waiting for.

It’s been easy to hide my truth from Asher with him on the other side of the world, but now he’s back, and I don’t think he’ll be going anywhere soon. When he landed back in the States from Japan, he said he was going to be in and out as quickly as possible. It’s only a matter of time before I snap, and there is a big chance that is going to happen right in front of him.

What’s the cause of my loss of self-control, you ask? It’s none other than my best friend's little sister. I know. It doesn’t get any more fucking cliché than that. I’ve wanted her for longer than I’m willing to admit even to myself.

There has always been something that has drawn me to her. A protectiveness that has changed over the years. Asher has even at times asked me to keep an eye on her. He travels a lot. I do some but nowhere near the level he does. I'm not the one running from home. I rather enjoy being right where I am, but then again, I have a functional, loving family. The same can’t be said for Asher.

At least today he and I are both on the same page about this party that he’s barreling down the highway to get to. We’re both going for two very different reasons. He thinks I’m there for backup, which is bullshit. Asher doesn’t need backup with a bunch of high school punks, but there was no way I wasn’t going. I know he’s not going to look for his sister. He thinks Emily is fine and can take care of herself.

No, he’s pissed that his new stepsister is at the party. One that a few days ago he was sure he was going to hate. Too bad that plan went to hell the moment he laid eyes on her. I’m not the only one with secrets around here.

Asher spent the last hour in my condo confessing to his dirty little sins that included a bit of blackmail. Hell, I thought I knew Asher better than anyone, but I did not see this one coming, and I’ve seen his new stepsister Molly a few times now. Only in passing when I’d dropped into talk business with Tomas Score while Asher has been away.

Asher’s father and mine have been close and often work on deals together, and now Asher and I are about to embark on a new business venture. I’ve been over to the Score Family Estate a handful of times just in the last month to meet with Tomas, Asher’s father, to discuss building a home for his new wife. It’s what my family, the Silversteins, are known for. There isn’t anything we can’t build.

Asher has been hell-bent on hating his new stepmom, Grace, but she’s sweet, and I’ve heard her daughter is too. Honestly, I’d never given Molly a second glance, but then again, Emily has always held my attention. Anytime I’m in the Score home, I’m trying to steal glances of her when she is there.

Molly is quiet and tends to blend into the background. I often forget she’s in the room, and I think the girl prefers it that way. From what I’ve heard she doesn’t think she belongs. It’s understandable. Her mother was a nurse that busted her ass to afford their small apartment, and now she lives on the Score family estate, which is bigger than some small cities. I’m sure it’s a bit overwhelming for her.

This girl I’ve barely noticed is the very reason I think Asher’s life is about to change in ways he doesn’t understand. I do, because I’ve been where he is for a while.

For Asher’s whole life, he couldn’t stand most women. He puts everything into his work. Not that I can blame the man. His mother is one fucked-up bitch, and that’s not something I’d easily call someone. My own mom would kill me if she ever heard me utter those words about a female.

Asher’s mother is what the word was made for. Some people have daddy issues, but I think Asher’s mom Heidi gave him mommy issues. It’s why he keeps all females at arm's length. Until now, it seems. If I had to guess, Molly is avoiding him at all costs, and it’s driving him insane. He’s gone from hiding from women that often throw themselves at him because of his last name to now chasing one. I’d laugh, but I don’t need karma kicking me in the face right now.

“Are you just going to storm in there and toss her over your shoulder and storm back out?” I ask, giving my seatbelt a small tug to make sure it’s on tight with how fast he’s driving. Which I’m not complaining about; I’m actually thankful for it. I want to get there as quickly as we can.

Emily has turned into a social butterfly over the past few years, but I wasn’t aware she’d been hitting the party scene. The girl is in every damn school club, and let’s not forget cheerleading. That shit is torture.

There have been a few parties here and there, but they’ve been at family homes I knew and that had tight security. As in, I knew the security teams personally. Now the McDonald brothers are a different story. I went to school with a few of the older ones. They’re all pieces of work, and Emily knows that, but still she’s there. I know it’s the end of the year blowout for the seniors. Graduation is days away, but I still don’t like it. Not one fucking bit.

My phone goes off, and I already know who it is. It’s Jericho giving me an alert on Emily. One I already know because she told her brother she was going to the party before she left the house. Irritation still fills me, but I know Jericho isn’t a fucking psychic. I just hate not knowing what she’s doing. I have to hear it secondhand. It hadn’t always been that way.

Once upon a time, Emily hung on to my every word. Then I went and fucked it up. What choice did I have? To this day, I still question what I did, but now all I can try to do is prove to her that things have changed.

Asher pulls straight up to the McDonald mansion, not caring that he’s blocking in a ton of cars. He doesn’t plan to be here long. That makes two of us.

The wait is over. Tick tock, Emily. Time's up. I don’t care if her brother is my best friend. She may be his sister, but she’s going to be mine.

2

Emily

I’m pretty sure I had one or two drinks too many at this point. I told myself I was celebrating graduation, but the reality is I’m in a shit mood. When my stepsister Molly said she was down to go to the McDonald party, I thought what the hell. I needed to get out of the house.

Molly is sweet, and we’ve slowly gotten closer. It’s been hard with my schedule. I keep myself busy, and she tends to be shy. I get the sense she tries to stay out of the way. As for me, the busier I am, the less time I have to think. Forget idle hands; it's idle minds that will eat you alive.

My mood went south when I overheard my brother on the phone with his best friend Chase. I’m guessing they’re hanging out and doing God knows what. They always hang out when my brother is in town. I never hear what they are up to, but a lot of men in this world are good at hiding their night lives. Some even carry NDAs on them in their back pockets. It’s insane and fucked up.

When I was younger, they’d always let me tag along. Asher was never one to shy away from having his little sister around. In fact, I think he went out of his way to take me with him if it meant getting me out of the house and away from our mother. He’s always been a good brother, but ever since our mother up and left, he’s been around a lot less. I guess he thinks I don’t need that protection anymore. Now he’s been keeping his butt in Japan since Dad remarried.

He’s being a dumbass about it. If he spent a few hours with Grace, he’d know that woman is not a gold digger and she and Dad are madly in love. So much at times I find myself jealous of it. It reminds me of how Chase’s parents are. I always loved hanging out at the Silverstein home when I was younger. It was nice to see how a normal family functioned. I always took comfort in their normalcy.

His parents are the cookie cutter perfect parents. Julie, Chase’s mom, always went out of her way to spend time with me. She taught me to cook and a million other things whenever I’d go over there with my brother when I was younger. She’d always tell me I was the daughter she never had. Chase is an only child. Not that his parents hadn’t tried. They always call him their miracle baby.

Then Chase went and broke my heart. I hadn’t only lost him that day I’d made my little confession to him—okay, maybe it wasn’t little—but I’d lost his parents too. His mom meant so much to me. She was the mom I never had. Isn’t that life, though? If I’ve learned anything, it’s that everyone comes and goes. No one truly stays.

I mean, I know I have my father and brother, but Dad is now madly in love, and I want that for him. Asher avoids the family home as much as he possibly can. I keep busy so they don’t worry over me, but somehow for being a person with a million friends and being involved in every school club and function actually possible, I’ve never been lonelier.

Even now I’m on a dance floor outside by the pool, the party is in full swing with people surrounding me, and there is still an emptiness inside of me that I can never fill. I know everyone here. I bet most, if not all, would call me a friend, but do any of them really know me?

The music changes to a softer song. I close my eyes and let my body sway. I couldn’t get Molly into the pool or on the dance floor. I think when I mentioned dancing, she made up using the bathroom as an escape. She’s mostly kept to herself since she came to Bradford Prep for her senior year. I don’t think she had the time to really form bonds, or maybe it’s more she didn’t want to make friends.

“Emily!” My eyes fly open at the sound of my brother's voice. I spin around to see him standing there with a pissed-off expression on his face.

“What?” I notice Chase standing behind him. If I thought my brother's face looked pissed, then Chase’s is livid. Why are either of them here?

“Where is Molly?” Asher growls.

“She went to the bathroom.” I point up the stone walkway to the house that leads to the bottom level where part of the party has moved.

“Are you drunk?” Chase asks with an odd tone to his voice.

“Seriously?” my brother grits out.

“Go get Molly. I’ve got Emily,” Chase tells Asher, who is already taking off in the direction that Molly went.

“Got me? No, I don’t think so. But you could get me another drink.” I smirk.

“You’re in a bikini.” Chase points out the obvious.

“Yeah, it’s a pool party. How is it you run a billion-dollar company?” He ignores my jab.

“This your shit?” He points to a lounge chair. He doesn’t wait for a response before he’s grabbing up all my crap.

“The hell?! I’m not going anywhere. I’m dancing.”

“You motherfucker. Back up three feet.” He glares at someone over my shoulder. I glance to see Kevin standing there. He backs up five feet.

“I’m still staying,” I fire back. Why does he give a shit who is dancing with me? I’m a single girl.

“Fine.” He sits down on the lounge chair and stares at me. Tonight, he’s dressed down in jeans and a simple black shirt. You never know what you might get with him. Sometimes he’ll be coming from a job site and be covered in dirt with ripped jeans and boots, and others he’ll be in a custom suit.

Either way, he always looks hot as hell. Not only that, he’s charming. At least he’s the charming one between him and my brother, which I suppose isn’t too hard. While Asher avoids small talk, Chase will engage with people.

“Is that Chase Silverstein?”

“Oh my God, it is.” I roll my eyes as four girls start to surround him. Here we go. I brace myself for what I know is going to be them flirting and throwing themselves at him.

Of course, they know who he is. The Silverstein family is well known at Bradford Prep. They put in a new library for the school three years ago, and then they built a whole extra gym that was supplied with a ton of mats and equipment.

That was nice because it gave us a place to practice for cheerleading. A lot of times we’d have to find random spots, and they weren't always safe, such as the grassed-off part of the courtyard. The school might be called Bradford Prep, but the Silverstein family name is mounted on plaques throughout it.

As I watch the girls descend upon him, I change my mind. I think it might be time to leave. What might be worse than hearing Chase tell me that I was too young for him would be to see him actually show interest in someone who is my age. Then I’d know he was full of shit. Not that I don’t think he is, but more full of it.

“Can I have my bag?” I wiggle through the circle of girls that have surrounded him and slip my sandals on.

“No.”

“I need my purse so I can call for a ride.” I drove, but since I’ve had a few drinks I’ll leave my car overnight.

“I rode with Asher. I’ll drive your car. I saw it parked out front. Where is whatever you wore over that?” He makes an annoyed face as he motions to my swimsuit.

“Maybe I came this way.”

“You want to play, little girl?” He starts to pull his shirt off, and I know he’s going to put it on me. I grab it to stop him. I don’t need all the girls fainting looking at him with no shirt.

“It’s in my bag, and don’t call me that,” I grit out. I hate when he calls me a little girl. We both know why he does it: to remind me that I’m just some little girl while he’s a man who would only ever want a woman. Each time he says it to me, it reminds me of the way he hurt me.

He reaches into my bag and pulls my dress out. “Don’t you know that you don’t go into girls' purses? It's a well-known rule.”

“Don’t have a lot of experience handling women’s purses.” I shake my head at him but put my flowy blue dress back on.

Blue, Chase’s favorite color. I know because he once told me. A dark blue. The same as my eyes. He hadn’t said that last part, but when I was a little girl, I told myself he loved blue because of my eyes. They aren’t solid blue. They fade from light to dark. I got them from my mother. I actually got a lot of my looks from her. It’s bittersweet because my mom might be ugly on the inside, but she’s beautiful on the outside.

“Let’s go.” Chase still doesn’t give me my purse back. In fact, he digs in it again to find my keys before he grabs me by the arm.

“Chase, don't leave.”

“Emily, introduce us,” I hear a few girls from my cheer team say as I’m being pulled away.

“Let go.” I try to jerk my arm from his hold.

“Not happening.”

“Hey—” I stop talking when he suddenly does release his hold on my arm, but it’s to grab a boy I don’t recognize. He’s probably from another school.

“You have a staring problem.”

“Not my fault her tits are out,” the boy responds. I glance down to see I do have a nice amount of cleavage showing, having tugged too hard on my dress when I pulled it over my head.

“Hope you can swim.” Chase shoves the boy who is fully dressed in khakis and a pink polo shirt backwards right into the pool. “Actually, I hope you fucking can’t.”

We don’t get the chance to find out because Chase once again has me by the arm, pulling me around the side of the house toward the front to where I parked my car. I don’t try to break his hold on me again. I should, but part of me loves it, and I’m going to soak it in even if for only this short moment because I can’t remember the last time Chase touched me.

3

Chase

That little shit wasn’t wrong. When did Emily get those tits? She is no longer a girl, but on some level she will always be my girl. When we were younger, it was a protectiveness I had over her. Hell, I could be more overbearing than Asher when it came to her.

Emily spent so much time at my house when Asher and I were in high school. At first, he would ask me if he could bring her, but then after a while, he always did it without a thought. She became just as much a little sister to me. I was sure I was trying to protect Emily from her own mother, but as time went on and she grew up, things started to change.

There was a moment in time I thought something was wrong with me. Girls in high school wanted to date or fool around, but it never interested me. I thought I was so involved in making sure I was learning all the ins and outs that I might need for taking over the Silverstein business that I didn't have time for any of that.

Then there were my parents. They were the epitome of a happy, healthy relationship. They were even high school sweethearts. I never missed the glint in my mom's eyes when she said Dad would only ever belong to her.

My father could be very possessive of her, but that was her way of showing her possessiveness. I wanted to be able to give that to my wife one day. Getting a front row seat to Asher's parents' marriage, I knew what I wanted, and I wasn’t going to settle for anything less than what my parents had.

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